Merceda “Murph” Druding, 85, of Beloit, WI, died suddenly on Good Friday, March 30th, 2018 at Beloit Memorial Hospital. She was a devoted member of St. Jude Catholic Church. Murph was born December 10th, 1932 in Escanaba, MI to Kevill and Merceda (Middlebrook) Murphy. Murph was cherished and loved by her older brothers, Kevill and Norbert. She attended St. Joe’s High School. Murph met her husband Donald Druding in Gladstone, MI. He proposed to her two years later in a letter while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. They married on July 12th, 1952 in Escanaba. Murph and Don moved to Beloit in the late 1950’s and put down roots reaching across the city. She took great pride in providing a loving home for her family and many of her children’s friends. Some of her favorite basement lodgers were Pack and Freg. Many considered Murph a second mother. Murph loved to start conversations with anyone and everyone. She loved and supported her many dear lifelong friends. They gathered regularly for morning coffee, lunch, and dinner dates. The group looked forward to the fire pit party that she hosted each fall. Murph was an avid walker for many years, walking for miles with her walking stick, and always making new friends along the way. When her days of long walks came to an end, she reverted to exercising in her lower level to video tapes she would pick up at local rummage sales. Murph had a great love for travel with friends and family. She made an annual trek to South Texas for many years with friends. She travelled with family to Virginia, South Carolina, Las Vegas, South Dakota, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. She had plans to visit Ireland in July with her two granddaughters. Murph knew how to love people and she understood what was important. She had boundless energy and she gave generously of her time and resources. She especially loved her grandchildren and pets. Her example of how life should be lived was a priceless gift to all who knew her. Survivors include her 4 children; grandchildren; sisters-in-law; and many dear nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband on April 16th, 1999, and her parents and brothers Kevill and Norbert. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 5, 2018 in St. Jude Catholic Church, 737 Hackett Street, Beloit, WI. Burial will be in Floral Lawn Cemetery, South Beloit, IL. Visitation of remembrance will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Road, Beloit, WI, with a scripture service beginning at 4:45 p.m.