Elizabeth was born Feb. 1, 1890, the daughter of John and Mollie York Murphy of Browns Valley, Ky. Her parents were members of St. Anthony parish. Elizabeth was often seen carrying flowers to decorate the altars, helping her mother clean the church and keeping the pastor’s table supplied with vegetables and fruits in season. Elizabeth helped organize the youth of the parish in sodalities. In 1910, she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. After a postulancy of 25 days, Elizabeth received the Ursuline habit on August 30 and the name Sister Aloise.
In September 1911, Sister Aloise began her apostolate of teaching at the public school of St. Francis Xavier in Raywick, Ky., where she was assigned to the lower grades. After five years, she was missioned to St. Denis School in Shively, Ky., where she was superior, principal, and teacher. From there she moved on to other public or parochial schools in Kentucky where she often served as superior, principal, and teacher: Fancy Farm (St. Denis), Flaherty and Hardinsburg.
On February 1, 1930, Sister Aloise and the other Sisters missioned at St. Romuald, Hardinsburg, were on their way to visit the Mount. They were in a serious car accident just outside Sorgho. Sister Aloise suffered a fractured skull and brain concussion. She was transported by ambulance to Daviess County Hospital. Although the injuries were ultimately fatal, Sister never lost consciousness. She continually prayed, “Mary, make a place for me.” She died the following day, February 2. Father George Friederick of Louisville celebrated the funeral Mass. Father James L. Whelan, chaplain, delivered the homily. In addition to her mother, other family members and friends, a delegation of pupils from St. Romuald School attended the funeral Mass and the burial service in the convent cemetery.