Ramona A. Murphy

Ramona A. Murphy, 89, passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Vernon Hills, Illinois. She was born June 20, 1936, in La Motte, Iowa, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Moran) Herrig. She lived and raised her family in Riverdale, Illinois until retiring and moving to Vernon Hills for the past 20 years. She received her bachelor's degree from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, and was a former gifted reading & history teacher at Franklin Elementary School and Lincoln Junior High School. Ramona was recognized as a leader in the development of gifted reading programs throughout northern Illinois. After retirement, she continued her love of teaching and was a substitute teacher at Hawthorn Middle School in Vernon Hills. Ramona approached life with a sense of adventure and an abundance of energy. She loved being active and seeing new places. She was a founding member of the Riverdale Library Board and was a member of St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church in Indian Creek. Ramona enjoyed golfing & tennis and was a member of Libertyville Golf League and Ivanhoe & Treborshire Tennis Leagues. She enjoyed traveling throughout the world, was an avid reader, played Mahjong, and especially enjoyed spending time with friends and family.
Ramona will be greatly missed by her family. Surviving are her two daughters, Kathleen "Kate" (Wayne) of Atlanta, Georgia and Claire (Gerardo) Guzman of Barrington, Illinois; 6 grandchildren, Erin, Kathryn and Caroline Hood and Anna, Alex and Megan Guzman; sister, Mary Habisohn and by a sister-in-law, Arlene Herrig.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James "Jim" Murphy in 2020, by her brother, Paul Herrig and brother-in-law, Victor Habisohn.
A visitation will begin at 9:30 am, followed by mass at 10:30 am on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church, 236 W. Hwy 45, Indian Creek, IL. Interment will follow at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville. For info: 847-362-3009 or share a memory at www.burnettdane.com.