Ann Marie Murnane

WINFIELD, Ill. - Ann Marie (Belt) Murnane, 94 of Winfield, Illinois, died peacefully of natural causes on December 31, 2025. Visitation will be on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 4-8 pm, at Norris-Segert Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 132 Fremont St., West Chicago, Illinois. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 10:30 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Winfield, Illinois and followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery in West Chicago, Illinois.

Ann was born February 18, 1931, in Columbus, Ohio. Ann was raised in a large, loving, devoutly Catholic family. At 18, Ann decided to give her life to God in service and join the convent. God had other plans for her service though, and due to an injury in a car accident on the way to the convent, she was unable to complete her novitiate. Ann met Timothy (Tim) Murnane, a recent WWII veteran from Marquette University through her brothers who also attended school there. In 1953, Ann and Tim married and together they raised a family of 9 children.

Ann will be remembered for her qualities of being loving, patient, kind, humble, not easily angered, forgiving, protective, perseverant, and resilient. Ann was deeply spiritual, Christ-centered, peaceful and joyful. She was also playful, funny, a rule breaker, and an excellent listener. Ann’s skill for wise and gifted counsel along with her thirst for lifelong knowledge led her, at 53 years of age, to complete an associate's degree in Addictions Counseling from the College of DuPage, graduating with Highest Honors. Ann completed her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from National College of Education. She focused on Child and Family Counseling for her Master’s degree study program. Ann worked comforting and counseling those in crisis at the DuPage County Crisis Center and also had a private practice working with families and married couples. Later in life, Ann’s child-centered joy and passion led her to serve as a nanny for the Kawka family in helping raise their three boys, Michael, Danny and John.

Ann leaves behind a legacy of love. That love lives on in her and Tim Murnane’s descendants, the Kawka family, her family, neighbors, friends and caregivers. Ann’s deep faith led her to model Jesus in her daily life as she shared her mottos and inspirational sayings of "God did it just for me!" "The more you look for God, the more you will find him." "That's what Heaven's for" and instead of goodbye, "To be continued."

Ann is survived by her seven children, 13 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, her son-in-law, Jim McVicar, her sister, Jean Shelton, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Children: Joan (Tom Rendall) Murnane, Joe (Kathleen) Murnane, Christine (Jim) Meece, Tim Murnane, John Brebeuf (Susan) Murnane, Margaret (Michael) McCarthy and Kathleen (Tim) Morris. Grandchildren: Matthew (Michelle) McVicar, David McVicar, Megan (Austin) Funcheon, Jenny Lynn (Ben) Murnane-Butcher, Carmen (Judah) Morales, Brendan Meece, Luke (Julia) Murnane, Maria and Sareena Murnane, Erin (Alex) Faith, Patrick and Bridgette McCarthy, Daniel and Christina Morris.

Great-grandchildren: Taylor and Sean McVicar; Emma Faith, Quinn Michael and Isaac Xavier Murnane and Declan Murnane-Butcher.

Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Timothy Aloysius Francis Ryan Murnane, her daughters Mary Therese McVicar and Patricia Mary Murnane. Patricia was born on the Feast of St. Patrick (March 17, 1959) and died eight days later on the Feast of the Annunciation in Cleveland, Ohio. She was also preceded in death by her parents, William Atlee Belt and Beatrice Teresa (Durbin) Belt and her brothers Father Lawrence Belt, S.J., John, Louis, Edward, James, and Ralph Belt. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Winfield, Illinois or the Tony Reyes Family Foundation.

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” St. Augustine

To view Ann's visitation and Funeral Mass please follow the links below