Patricia Louise Murrin, 93, of Lombard, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Oct. 11, 2026, at her home in Lombard. Patricia is survived by her husband, Gerald Murrin, whom she married on April 14, 1956. They celebrated 70 wonderful years of marriage this past April.
She is also survived by her children, Maureen (Kevin) Curran, Kathleen (Rob) Simon, Karen (James) Pulia, Kevin (Cindy) Murrin, Angela (Keith) Giagnorio, Susan (Richard) Schulze, Sharon (Richard) Vish, and Thomas Murrin, her grandchildren; Michael (Nicole) Pulia, Daniel (Brankica) Pulia, Brett Simon, Ashley (Dan) Peluse, Eric (Briana) Pulia, Zachary (Tatum) Kozi, Jeremy (Tia) Curran, Joseph (Alex) Giagnorio, Jake Murrin, Scott Murrin, Anthony (Sara) Kozi, Lillian Vish, Rachel Vish, and Billy Murrin, and her great grandchildren: Aubrey Kozi, Michael, Luca, Giovanni, Marco, Sophie, Tess, Emmie, and John Pulia, Decker and Parker Curran, and Olivia Giagnorio. Also surviving are her sisters Eileen Razevich and Debbie Whitman. She was preceded in death by siblings, Maureen Scully, Larry Scully, Bernard Scully and Michael Scully, and her parents, Bernard J. Scully and Ellen I. Scully.
Patricia was born on June 17, 1933, in Joplin, Montana, the oldest daughter of seven children. She grew up in Vancouver, Washington, attended Providence Academy High School and became the valedictorian of her 1951 graduating class. Patricia had a strong Catholic faith. She loved all of God's creatures including people and animals and always saw the best in everyone. As a teenager, she worked at St. Joseph Hospital in Vancouver. She continued her education at Chase School of Commerce studying office administration, accounting, and secretarial skills.
In 1952, at the age of 19, Patricia enlisted in the United States Navy, during the Korean Conflict. She was stationed in Washington D.C. and worked as a secretary in the Office of Naval Research and in the Pentagon during her service. Patricia proudly served as a WAVE in the U.S. Navy until 1956.
It was during her 4-year enlistment in the Navy where she met the love of her life, Gerald W. Murrin, also a United States Navy Veteran, in 1955 in Arlington, Virginia. They married in 1956 and together they built a home filled with faith and a gentle spirit. Living in Rock Island, Illinois after their marriage, they moved to Duluth, Minnesota and later to Villa Park, Illinois, where they raised their family for many years.
Patricia became the proud mother of eight children, six daughters and two sons. She instilled the love of reading and music in all of her children. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were at the center of her universe. The entire family remains close to this day, spending time with her children, 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and six sons-in-law during all the holidays and special occasions. Patricia was the architect for the "Murrin family Christmas Eve" celebration, which continues with the entire family to this day.
Patricia also became very involved in the St. John the Apostle Church in Villa Park and during her 50-year tenure with CCW (Catholic Council of Women) there she served three terms as the president of the council and was also named Woman of the Year twice. She also served for a period of time as the Secretary of the Parish Council.
After raising her children, Patricia obtained a bachelor's degree in education from Elmhurst College and taught a generation of pre-school children at St. Paul's Lutheran Pre-School in Villa Park before retiring in her 70s.
The family would like to acknowledge her team of care workers who helped her in her final years, in particular her long-term helpers Farzi, Nina, and Lulu. Services were held Saturday, Oct. 17, at St. Alexander Catholic Church, 300 S. Cornell Ave., Villa Park, Illinois. Interment Assumption Catholic Cemetery. Memorials to Catholic Charities in Patricia's name are appreciated. Funeral info: steuerlefh.com or 630-832-4161.
