Anne Marie Murphy

Surrounded by family in prayer at home, Anne Murphy, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 9, 2025 – after a short illness and a more extended heartbreak upon losing her husband and life partner, Richard Murphy, unexpectedly in 2020.

Born January 7, 1936, in Ft. Sheridan, IL to Michael and Agnes (Schmidt) Girard, and after a few military related moves, Anne settled and grew up in Rockford, IL where she attended Muldoon High School and married Richard “Dick” in 1955. She was a devoted wife and mother and loved raising her four children at home. In order to provide them with private Catholic education, a clear priority, she also worked outside the home, primarily as switchboard operator for Rockford Newspaper, Rockford, IL and then as office manager for Landstar Inway, Rockford IL.

Above all else, Anne was a true lover and follower of Christ. Throughout her life, she was a model of generosity, strong faith, kindness, gentleness, and goodwill, and she reflected God’s love to countless souls around her, as many would attest. Whoever got to know Anne would also attest to her words – even including her everyday comments – as being remarkably deep, impactful, and helpful in their own search for God and for meaning in their lives.

She always carried herself with humility (she would probably call it “timidity”, lest she boast about having a virtue). In many ways she emulated Mother Teresa who tried to see Jesus in everyone she met - and in the process those people would feel like they met Jesus in her.

She always encouraged learning and questioning. She was a Den Mother in cub scouts. Very active in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church as a CCD teacher and in other roles, Anne loved sharing the Faith with children, and she was aptly named by the Rockford Deanery Council of Catholic Women as a 2012 Woman of The Year (co-received with her sister Pat Stahl) for outstanding Christian Service in St. Patrick’s parish.

Anne (Mom) loved her family and spending time with her siblings, children, and grandchildren. Some of her favorite pastimes with her grandchildren were making Christmas cookies, taking them to the library, and teaching them piano. She had a passion for music in general, both in writing her own songs and in playing various instruments, and she passed that love of music fully to her children and grandchildren.

Anne was extremely creative and resourceful – always saw value in everything – including people and things – nothing goes to waste. She loved her crafts, spent a vast portion of her spare time creating afghans, egg ornaments, ceramics; also painting – crafting lawn size nativity scenes for Christmas decorations. And she loved gardening – getting her hands in the dirt and creating various garden beds – usually with some insightful theme or message.

She was an avid reader, also a champ at crosswords, Scrabble, Words with Friends, and an ardent Wheel of Fortune watcher. She loved cribbage and playing Pinochle with her Siena friends.

Anne was a very thoughtful and wise conversationalist – often presenting a “devil’s advocate” perspective on others’ ideas. “Hmm, that’s true, but have you thought about it this way…?” or “Well on the other hand…” There was always another hand – always room to challenge but respect others’ input. We learned so much from her through that lens.

And she loved candles – the idea of passing the Light of Christ to the world one person at a time. This took the form of organizing a neighborhood candle luminaria, with beautiful little glowing bags of light lining the streets of Parker Woods on Christmas Eve, and also in a song she adapted and re-authored, which said “It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark… and if everyone lit just one little candle what a bright world this would be!” Amen, Mom!

Anne was preceded in death by Richard, her husband of 65 years; her three sisters, Patricia Stahl, Betty Vance, Michaeline Straetz; and brother James Girard.

Anne is survived by her four children, Daniel (Charlotte), JoAnne (Thomas) Wood, Steven (Jeannine), and Thomas (Connie); 13 grandchildren, Maria (Julio) Casillas, Dan (Gretchen), Angela Malavolti, Diana (Joseph) Dawson, Christopher, Tom Wood (Amber Koehler), Julie (Curtis) Smith, Paul (Christina), Adam (Cassie), Jacob (Alyssa), Andrew (Selena), Michael, and Mark; 31 great-grandchildren – including one on the way!; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 10:00 am with a visitation prior to Mass from 9:00 - 9:45 am at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103. A Night Before Visitation will be on Monday, April 21, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, with Rosary recitation beginning at 7:00 pm at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 3910 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103. Burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Memorials will be used to have Masses said for Anne and her intentions.