Harriet Ann Murnane

Harriet Ann Murnane, of Houston, Texas, passed away on Oct. 21, the day after her 91st birthday. She was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1923. It was there that she met Jim, her high school sweetheart, whom she married in 1947. They remained happily married for 65 years, until his death last year. Over the span of her marriage, Harriet moved several times as Jim accepted promotions in his career with General Electric. They lived in Corpus Christi, TX; Houston, TX; Cincinnati, Ohio; Syosset, New York; and finally, back to Houston. It would be true to say Harriet was the worlds greatest Mother and Neighbor. As a mother of nine, she somehow managed to volunteer in her children’s activities, from serving as a Den Mother for her sons Scout troops, and chaperoning on Girl Scout camping trips. As her children had children, we asked each other, “How did Mom do it?” When new residents moved into the neighborhood, Harriet would organize a neighborhood brunch and welcome the new family with a plate of her chocolate chip cookies. Strong willed and quiet, she simply saw what needed to be done, and did it with a smile. Her caring for others and pride in her community is legendary. Harriet was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Westchester Community in 1995 and honored by St. John Vianney Church’s Samaritan Ministry in 2006. Harriet was known for her daily walks, which started at 5:30 a.m. She would pick up newspapers left at the curb and place them on front porches to make it more convenient for others. As a devout Catholic, she dedicated much of her time on church committees, including the Altar Committee, Church Bazaar, Funeral Committee, and Women’s Club. As her friends told us, you could always count on Harriet. They nicknamed her Saint Harriet, as she always put others needs before her own. Children include Tom Murnane, of San Marcos, Calif.; Terry (Margaret) Murnane, The Woodlands; Jim (Lorraine) Murnane, Wading River, New York; Ginny (Ty) Eckley, Kingwood; Marsha (Boris) Siegel, San Marcos, Calif.; Joe Murnane, Montgomery; Shelly (Brad) Lamb, The Woodlands; Mike (Kim) Murnane, Richmond, and John (Kim) Murnane, San Antonio. Harriet is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held in her honor Monday, November 10th, at 10:30 am at St John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX, 77079, with a reception to follow. Interment will be held at 2:00 pm at the VA Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, 77038.

Harriet Ann Murnane

October 20, 1923 - October 21, 2014