Anna June Murawinski (née Cavanaugh) beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Thursday morning, February 2, 2023. She was 96.
AJ, a true New Yorker, was born in Manhattan in 1926. As a high school student, she was a competitive drummer in one of the city’s drum and bugle corps, and was even known to get behind the drums at family weddings.
In 1949, she married Walter Murawinski, in Jersey City, New Jersey, where the couple also lived for a few years. They eventually moved to North Bergen, where they would go on to raise a family of five children.
After her youngest started school, Anna June took a job as an executive secretary for Rogers & Wells, an international law firm in New York City with their headquarters in the iconic Pan Am Building. An original plan to work just a few years turned into a 25-year career as an invaluable executive secretary to top attorneys, visiting international dignitaries, and a future director of a federal intelligence agency.
A spiritual soul, in her lifetime AJ was a member of St Joseph’s of the Palisades, as well as St. Leo the Great. She was the go-to person whenever extra prayers were needed, and was known to give every visitor “the bless” – a motion symbolizing the Holy Trinity – when arriving and on departure.
Immediate family did not go to sleep without a bless.
She was also famous for handing out “sleepy dust” which all but guaranteed restful slumber within minutes.
AJ was kind to everyone she met, and beloved by her entire family. She was full of life, and stories, and love, and instilled a sense of pride and integrity in raising a family. She was proud of all of her children and grandchildren, and made sure they knew it.
She is pre-deceased by her husband Walter Murawinski, Sr. and her daughter Mary Cathleen Murawinski, as well as sisters: Josephine Burns, Agnes Andreassen and Catherine Duffy.
AJ is the mother of Edward (Deborah) Murawinski, Walter (Amy) Murawinski, Agnes (Louis) Murawinski and Joseph (Deneen) Murawinski. She leaves behind her “angels” grandchildren Kevin (Kirstin), Michael (Ashley), Matthew, Julia and Shelby as well as great granddaughters Emily, Zoe and Natalie. She also leaves behind 28 nieces and nephews, including her godchildren Marge Cragan and Steve Duffy.
Please visit Anna’s memorial website at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com
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