Maureen Murnane

Maureen was born on June 17th, 1938 and passed away on
April 7th, 2025 at the age of 86Maureen Murnane
June 17, 1938- April 7, 2025
Maureen Murnane of Southworth, Washington passed away peacefully on April 7, 2025, surrounded by her five devoted children. Throughout her 86 years, she was a woman of unwavering faith who walked in the light of the Lord. She was the ultimate optimist and passionately believed that one of life's greatest gifts was having a close-knit family.
Maureen was born on June 17,1938 as Mary Deenihan to Thomas and Ann (Dowling) Deenihan. She grew up in Ireland on a 100-acre dairy farm in Ballincloher townland near the village of Lixnaw, County Kerry. She was the youngest of six children and her siblings were Peggy, Eamon, B.B. (Bartholomew Brendan), Janey, and Ann.
Maureen loved living and working on her family farm as a child. It was her job to feed the pigs, guinea fowls, turkeys, geese, and chickens. She also took the milk three miles away to the creamery with the family's pony and cart. Going to the nearby bog with her father and brothers once a year to gather peat to heat the family home was also a highlight for her. Rarely a day passed when Maureen did not get on her bike and ride for miles. She fondly recalled the 'County Plowing Match' which occurred each spring and kids got a day off from school to enjoy the festivities. Famers would have sections of land that they would plow and compete against each other. One time this competition occurred on their land. She often said that she loved her childhood on the farm with its fresh air, beautiful scenery, and the freedom to play.
As a child, Maureen brimmed with self-confidence and a belief that she could do anything. Occasionally this led her to be mischievous. Her older sisters had the opportunity to take Irish dance lessons at the nearby school, but she was not allowed to participate due to her young age. Disagreeing with the school's decision, she took matters into her own hands. Equipped with a pig and tricycle, Maureen headed for the school. Once there, she opened the door and shoved the pig into the room full of young dancers. Satisfied with the chaos, she rode her tricycle back home. Maureen continued to have a can-do attitude throughout her life and showed determination in the face of any obstacle.
One year the family barn burned down including all the hay they had just harvested for the season. Although initially devasting, it turned into a blessing as all the neighboring farmers came to their rescue, bringing hay and supplies from their farms. The neighbors' generosity and compassion for her family remained forever etched in Maureen's mind. The lesson she shared with her children regarding this story is that they must always try to help their neighbors in need.
Maureen told her children that it was common to attend a céilí (pronounced "kay-lee") when she was growing up. It is a traditional Irish social gathering involving lively dancing and music, often featuring Irish instruments like the fiddle, flute, and bodhrán. People of all ages and skill levels could learn and dance together. Céilís might occur in a public building, but they were often held in various family homes in rural villages of Ireland. Maureen shared a funny story about a man who had been at the céilí at her family home the night before and had fallen asleep in the pew near her the next day during Sunday mass. He had a hangover and then woke up in the middle of the church service only to yell, "Play us another song!" She laughed as it was obvious he was disoriented and still thought he was at her family's céilí instead of church. The Catholic mass, Irish folk music, dancing, and other activities sometimes blended, and they were all an important part of the social fabric and way of life.
Throughout her youth Maureen attended Catholic schools, and she was considered the best typist in her high school. Following high school graduation, Maureen decided to enter a religious vocation as a nun and emigrate to America at the age of 18. She flew to Auburn, CA and lived at Our Lady of Mercy Order ("Mercy Sisters") with six other young Irish women. Maureen was known as "Sister Mary Thomas" for the two years that she studied and lived there. While she enjoyed her time as a novice and postulate, Maureen decided she could better serve God outside the religious order. It took tremendous courage to listen to her heart and start down a new path. Returning to Ireland, she worked in Dublin at The Mater Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the world.
Her sister Janey was living in New York City at the time and wrote to Maureen over a period of months, encouraging her to come live with her. Maureen agreed and flew from Dublin to New York on a Thursday, went for a job interview on a Friday, and then started her new job on a Monday. She worked in the credit office of the Manhattan department store called "Best and Company." She loved seeing the Christmas decorations each year in Rockefeller Square and being able to walk to St. Patrick's Cathedral. She and her coworkers would watch the St. Patrick's Day parade that ran right past her office window. She laughed and said, "We didn't get much done that day." She and her sister Janey enjoyed the energy of Manhattan, and they frequently went to listen to Irish music and attend dances on the weekends at Jaeger House and City Center. Maureen met her husband Eugene (Gene) Murnane when he spotted her beautiful red hair from across the room one evening and he decided to ask her to dance.
After a short courtship they married and had a son, Michael, and a daughter, Maureen, over the next two years. After the NYC Navy Yard closed, Gene transferred to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA. Shortly after arriving in Kitsap County, Maureen and Gene moved their young family onto an eight-acre farm in Olalla. They had three more daughters named Noreen, Deirdre, and Kathleen over the next few years.
Maureen embraced being a homemaker and she and Gene created a stable and loving home for their large family. She gave her children freedom to play outside for hours, and this allowed them to become independent and creative problem solvers throughout their lives. They built tree forts, waded into the creeks, made mudpies, found frogs, and swam in the nearby lagoon. Gathering the seven family members around the dinner table every night remained a high priority for her, and she enjoyed listening to everyone's daily adventures. She also planned memorable week-long camping trips every summer. She volunteered in school when her children were little and then chauffeured them to and from countless band practices, sporting events, youth groups, and other activities as they grew older. She was their biggest cheerleader and the matriarch of the family. When her children would come to their father with questions, he would say to them, "Go ask the boss." She gave her kids tremendous freedom to explore the world and to make their own choices in life. She never told them what they should be doing instead of what they were doing. Additionally, she always gave them the sense that if they failed at any time in their lives, they would always be welcomed home. Thankfully, they all thrived and chose to live near her in their adult lives after they each married and started families of their own. Undoubtedly, she always put her family first and her children felt that.
When her children were older and more independent, Maureen returned to school and earned her CNA license. This provided her with the opportunity to work at Cottesmore Nursing Home, Long Lake Nursing Home, and Rocky Bay Adult Home. She chose jobs that involved helping people. Later she earned a special education certificate and worked with students at Peninsula High School. She decided to retire when Gene retired from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Family birthday parties, holidays, and graduations became exciting events as more grandchildren and great-grandchildren came into her life. She helped babysit several grandchildren while their parents worked or went out for a date night. She had a never-ending supply of cookies and goldfish crackers for the kids. "Grandparent's Day" luncheons at the local elementary school were something she looked forward to as well as field day events that occurred just before summer break. She loudly cheered on the grandchildren at hundreds of events such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball games, as well as kindergarten, high school and college graduations. If the event was important to her family, then she tried her best to attend. She also went on a few family vacations with some of her grandchildren to places like Disneyland, Montana, and Arizona.
Traditions were very important to her. One of the traditions she had was taking her grandkids to the casino when they turned 18. She was looking forward to continuing this tradition with the great- grandchildren when they reached this age. Her grandkids also loved going to her house during the Christmas season as it glowed inside and out. She enjoyed hosting a Christmas Eve party for the entire family with all the traditions, including gifts for the grandchildren. She loved celebrating life's big milestones and watching her family grow and celebrate together. Creating a close-knit family was the greatest gift she gave.
Maureen always showed up if there was a crisis. When certain family members were in critical condition, she came to the hospital as soon as she could to sit by their bedside and pray for them. The prayers continued for these family members long after she left the hospital.
At any time of year, she always made people feel loved and welcomed in her home. Within minutes of arriving, she would offer guests a cup of hot tea and usually a slice of cake or some cookies. She was a gracious host.
Throughout her life, Maureen was also a stylish dresser and a great dancer. She thoroughly enjoyed dancing with Gene. Whether it was at the Belfair Barn where they won first place in a dance contest, or at the Seattle Center for the annual St. Patrick's Day Festival, strangers would approach them and say, "I could watch you two dance all night." Maureen stood out in a crowd with her stunning red hair and her beautiful Irish complexion. She wore elegant, tailored suits and heels to church throughout her life. In her later years, she looked forward to her hair appointments where she could freshen her locks, get pampered, and visit with her stylist.
She always felt lucky, and that optimism continued throughout her life. In her later years, she loved going to the casino and she came away with many winning jackpots. After Gene's retirement, he and Maureen took off on several road trips to Victoria, Arizona, California, Wyoming, and Montana with no hotel reservations. Maureen's optimism allowed her to believe that everything would be OK on their trips, and it was. She felt fortunate to have the opportunity to travel back to "the old country" with Gene and visit both of their families in Ireland during their retirement.
She was also a pragmatist. For example, she never flinched when the car broke down or when the family camping van got stuck in the sand at Ocean Shores. She just calmly figured it out. When there was a miscommunication about transportation to Michael's college summer job in eastern Washington and he missed his ride, she calmly stepped in and offered a solution. Without hesitation she drove the 12- hour round trip to get him there. However, she was not a snowplow parent; she didn't shove difficulties aside and pave an easy road for her children. She allowed her children to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. With her wisdom, she also knew which times in their lives it was necessary to step in and offer support.
Maureen and Gene were happily married for 42 years until his sudden death in 2003. Even after her husband passed, she courageously continued to explore the world, being willing to go solo or with tour groups to Germany and Italy. She made new friends wherever she went. With her wonderful sense of humor, she put people at ease, and she was a great conversationalist. Her loyal dogs, Maggie and Muffy, became important companions for her after she became a widow, and she showered them with love and a hearty supply of treats.
Maureen's faith was always an important part of her daily life. She taught Sunday school for years, volunteered as a Stephen Minister, a Eucharistic Minister, and church usher at both St. Nicholas Catholic Church and St. Gabriel Catholic Church. She was also a member of the Lady's Visitation Guild at St. Nicholas. She brought communion to home-bound individuals and to seniors in the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard. She lived the Catholic ideal of giving one's time, talent, and treasure. She donated frequently to charities but never boasted or drew any attention to herself regarding this. She simply cared for others.
In the last five years of her life, she was diagnosed with COPD, and she required supplemental oxygen. Her children rallied around her by helping her with various appointments, grocery shopping, and getting to mass. She never complained and maintained a positive outlook on life throughout this period. She had lived independently in her home for 21 years after Gene passed. She moved to Harbor Court Assisted Living in Gig Harbor in October 2024. She quickly made friends, enjoyed the social activities, and was wildly lucky at bingo each week. She managed this transition in her life with grace and looked forward to her frequent visits with family.
Even in her final days, as she faced her illness, Maureen's faith never wavered. When the Catholic priest gave her the sacrament of anointing the sick in the hospital, he told her not to be scared and that the Holy Spirit was with her. She smiled at him and said, "I know."
She was her children's first teacher, and she taught them valuable lessons about how to live an honorable life. Love your family and your neighbor. Give generously of your time, talent, and treasure. Show optimism. Believe that it will all work out in the end. She modeled what it meant to live with integrity, and she taught her family the importance of always doing the right thing even when no one was watching. She said on one of her last days, "You know, I have had a great life." Yes, Mom. You certainly did.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Gig Harbor at 1:00pm on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Eugene Murnane, and sons-in-law Dennis Nixon, and Alex Plum.
Children:
• Mike Murnane (Linda)
• Maureen Nixon (Bela)
• Noreen Plum (Alex)
• Deirdre Crebs (Tom)
• Kathleen Simpson (Gary)
Grandchildren:
• Kristin Hovde (Jay)
• Melissa Yaden (Steve)
• Jennifer Lou (Hong)
• Franz Plum (Jasmine)
• Megan Murnane (Anthony)
• Erin Simpson (Nick)
• Maxxwell Plum
• Conor Murnane (Gilly)
• Adam Simpson (Hannah)
• Kelly Crebs
• Brendan Crebs
Great-grandchildren:
• Kendyl Hovde
• Kyra Hovde
• Lily Lou
• Emory Lou
Brother and sister-in-law, John and Maureen Murnane of New Jersey; nieces Colleen and Eileen of New Jersey and a nephew, Timothy Murnane of Florida.