Katherine Diane Murphy, 43, of Granite City, IL passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, MO.

She was born on November 5, 1982 in Seattle, WA to Charles and Angelina (nee:  Morales) Murphy.

The loving mother, daughter and sister was a teacher for 14 years, most recently teaching special education at Annette Officer Elementary School in the East St. Louis School District.  Katherine enjoyed the outdoors.  She liked all types of animals as she enjoyed fishing, bird watching and feeding the squirrels.  Katherine also enjoyed gardening and art.  Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and teaching her students. She loved the color green.

Katherine is survived by her parents; a son, Ruben Murphy of Granite City; her fiancé, Ernest Harwick of Granite City;  a brother, Nick Murphy of Dallas, TX; 2 sisters:  Julia (Tyler Marshall) Murphy of Seattle, WA and Rita (Jared Bayer) Murphy of Philadelphia, PA; 5 nieces:  Grace, Mila, Ellie, Claire and Darcy; and a nephew, Henry.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Wojstrom Funeral Home & Crematory in Granite City, IL.  The funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints in Edwardsville, IL.  Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Glen Carbon, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the go fund me account "In Memory of Katherine:  Fund for Ruben".

Online guestbook and obituary available at www.wojstrom.com