Chesterton Tribune

Irene F. Murray dies at 92

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Irene F. Murray, 92, of LaPorte, and West Palm Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at LaPorte Hospital in La Porte, Ind.

She was born November 5, 1916 in LaPorte, the daughter of Francis Pankowski and Marie (Janowski) Pankowski.

On October 25, 1941, in LaPorte, she married Lawrence J. Murray who preceded her in death on October 2, 1994 after 53 years of marriage.

She is survived by her two daughters Paula (Erwin) Orthman of Jackson Twp., and Martha (Daniel) Fridh of LaPorte; one son Thomas (Renee’) Murray of Spokane, Wash.; seven grandchildren, Kevin (Wendy) Orthman of Valparaiso, Andrea (Michael) Slawski of Fairfax, Va., Jonathan Orthman of US Army Enterprise, Ala., Erin Fridh of Indianapolis, Lindsay (Aaron) Gogel of LaPorte, Ashley Fridh of LaPorte, Lisa Avery of Spokane, Wash.; three great-grandchildren, Charles Orthman, Brooklyn Gogel, Ella Avery; one sister Jean Pankowski of LaPorte, and two nieces and one nephew.

Irene was also preceded in death by her brother, Robert Pankowski, and a grandchild, Nathan Avery.

Irene was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of LaPorte and Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church of West Palm Beach, Fla. She was an officer of the St. Joseph Rosary Society and the Home and School Guild and she sang in the church choir. Irene graduated from LaPorte High School in 1934 and was the class secretary. She was a member of Upsilon Chapter, Pi Epsilon Kappa Sorority; and a volunteer Red Cross Nurses Aide (Holy Family Hospital) during WW II. Irene was a Girl Scout Brownie leader and Cub Scout Den Mother. Irene worked at Levine's Department Store office, LaPorte Gas and Electric, Pine Lake Cemetery office and at Murray Monuments (co-owner with her husband). Irene enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, sewing, gardening and bowling.

A funeral mass, Rev. Ted Nordquist officiating, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte.

Arrangements are being handled by Haverstock Funeral Home, 602 Maple Ave., LaPorte, Ind. where the family will receive friends Friday, May 22, 2 - 8 p.m. and Saturday, 10 - 10:45 a.m. A rosary service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph God Parents program or to the donor's choice.

Condolences may be made at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com

 

 

Posted 5/20/2009

 

 

 

 

 

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