Muriel Ruth Duerr
Muriel Ruth Duerr was born December 7, 1920 and died at home of old age on the evening of November 24, 2021 after being surrounded by her family all day. She was two weeks from her 101st birthday. Her end came quickly but her spirit was vibrant and rich until then. She spent the previous day baking her signature chocolate chip cookies and playing with her great-granddaughter. While she left her family “flatter than a pancake,’’ one of Muriel’s token expressions, and they are utterly heartbroken, they rejoice knowing this daughter of Christ has been called home to Heaven.
The daughter of Sarah McManus and Gustave Duerr, Muriel was born in Brooklyn and never quite shook her charming Brooklyn accent, however stately and elegant she became. Her family relied on young Muriel’s assistance running her mother’s beauty parlor which helped them get by during the Depression. Muriel had a charitable heart for good causes but never forgot the value of a dollar and a little elbow grease or took for granted the worldly blessings of her life.
Muriel had a cosmopolitan understanding of other cultures and importantly, food. She loved the herring and latkes of her childhood and knew her way around an Italian menu. Exposure to Italian dishes came in handy when she met a handsome Italian- American Navy officer just returning from the Second World War. On their first date he declared that she would be the girl he would marry because “she could twirl spaghetti better than he could.” She married Paul Lewis Morigi a year later.
Together, Muriel and Paul traveled the world, enjoying museums, excellent meals, and rest. Their most cherished place to visit was Bordighera, Italy. Paul business career accelerated while Muriel raised their mischievous and adored children. Paul Steven made them parents a year into their marriage and kept them busy with a great deal of laughter and some trouble. Their devoted daughter Karolyn followed and she was “the good one,” but still gave them a run for their money.
In Englewood, NJ where they made their home for many years, Muriel and Paul loved to dance together at the Knickerbocker Club and had an active social and civic life. Muriel was a staple of the Englewood Women’s Club, organized bridge fundraisers for the local hospital, was a longtime supporter of the St. Labre Indian Mission in Montana, and a fivedecade long member of the Daughters of the British Empire. Muriel was a devoted Episcopalian and until her mobility made it impossible, she attended church regularly and sang with gusto into her 90’s during the midnight service on Christmas Eve. She was a longtime parishioner and volunteer at St. Paul’s Englewood and attended Christ Church Greenwich. Proud of her Scottish ancestry, Muriel instilled a love of afternoon tea in her family. No scones will be consumed with dry eyes for years to come thanks to fond memories enjoying tea with her.
Not Italian herself, Muriel embodied the perfect Italian Nonna once she became a grandmother. Her polenta parties were infamous and you always knew what she meant when she shook her hand at you and slowly said, “mannaggia!” with her signature her white bun. Never one to shy away from the dramatic, Muriel kept the grandchildren and her whole family laughing with her costumes at Halloween and at Christmas. She kept spirits high with festive seasonal decorations and traditional holiday meals like the flambéed Christmas figgy pudding, insisting on singing every verse of the accompanying song.
Muriel was predeceased by Paul, her husband of 63 years, and her son Paul Steven. She leaves behind her beloved daughter Karolyn as well as her loving daughterin-law Linda Traci. Mourning her death are also granddaughters Sarah (Jonathan) and Anna (Jason) as well as grandsons Steven (Chante) and William. Muriel’s greatgranddaughter Amelia will sorely miss playing with her “Great-Nonna.” She is also predeceased by two great loves, Zeppo, an Old English Sheepdog, and Aristotle, her parrot.
We would be remiss not to mention Dr. James Brunetti, and nurse Heather Flaherty, who took excellent care of Muriel as she aged. Finally, her longtime home aide Lillian Zabala was a dear companion of 14 years, and with two caring and affectionate health aides, Nidia and Doris, gave Muriel daily comfort and laughter in her last years.
A visitation will take place from 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 5th at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home (31 Arch Street in Greenwich). Muriel’s funeral will be held at 11 a.m. at Christ Church Greenwich. Donations in Muriel’s name can be made to Christ Church Greenwich.