Anne A. Murtagh, a Rye resident for over 60 years, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2019 at the age of 92.
Born on March 1, 1927 in New York, she was the daughter of Katie (Dowd) and John Rowland, who emigrated from Ireland. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1944.
In 1951, she married Martin J. Murtagh, whom she had met in first grade in New
York City.
They moved to Rye in 1959 so that their daughters could attend Resurrection School.
Mrs. Murtaugh was an active member of the Auxiliary Board at St. Vincent’s Hospital, where she ran the formal high school dances and the debutante balls, and the Resurrection School St. Monica’s Mother’s Club. She started the Resurrection School newsletter, The Monicle, and was its publisher for many years. She also taught many of the Resurrection nuns how to drive in the Playland parking lot.
“Our mom was the quintessential mom of the ’50s and ‘’60s,” said her daughters. “She did everything well and everything for us. She was an astute businesswoman and fundraiser, starting with ice cream at Resurrection. And no one can ever remember seeing her without her lipstick on and her hair done, fresh from Una Coiffures.”
Anne and Martin Murtaugh were married for 65 years. He died in 2016. She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Hannon of Scarsdale, Joan Marren (Joseph) of Harrison, and Anne Hannon (Gerald) of Darien, Conn.; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated September 20 at the Church of the Resurrection. Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Valhalla.
Donations in Anne Murtagh’s memory may be made to Cabrini of Westchester, 115 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (www.cabrini-eldercare.org).
