Mary Murray Obituary

Mary Jane Murray, 67, of DeKalb, Illinois, died Friday, December 30, 2011, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, DeKalb. Born November 8, 1944, in Cattaraugus, New York, the daughter of Emerson and Marion (Corgel) Laing, Mary Jane was a graduate of Albany State University and received her master's degree from University of Buffalo. She was a librarian for 25 years at Ellicottville Central School in New York, and for 25 years was a substance abuse counselor, retiring as lead counselor for The Wells Center at Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles, Illinois. She is survived by her daughter, Alisa Smith-Riel, and three grandchildren, Mark, Lily and Erin Smith-Riel, all of DeKalb; a brother, Thomas Laing of Gowanda, New York; two sisters, Judith (Joseph) Becelia of Jacksonville, Virginia, and Carole Laing of Machias, New York; and two nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents. Cremation has taken place at Anderson Funeral Home Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Mary Jane Murray Memorial Fund, in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115. For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.