The world lost another great one. After a 22-year battle with multiple cancers, Anne Elizabeth Murray (Zaharek) was called to heaven on April 18, 2025.

Anne was born in Torrington to George and Mary Zaharek (Saccomani) on June 4, 1970, and leaves behind her loving husband and son, Sean and Brendan. She also leaves behind her sister, Susan Laub and her husband Dan Laub; brother Michael Zaharek; two nieces, Olivia and Fiona; and three nephews, Aidan, Ben and Jack. She is also survived by her Aunt Betty Zaharek, in-laws Conni and Dennis Murray, and many cousins and their families.

Anne dedicated her life to helping others, a true follower of Christ. She graduated from Fairfield University and earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Springfield College. She worked as a CNA at Valerie Manor in Torrington, Recreational Director at Cook Willow and Glen Hill nursing homes prior to her licensing as an occupational therapist. As an occupational therapist she worked in the Birth to Three program, Darien School District, and most recently spent the last 21 years working in the Newtown School District. She loved working with students, touched many lives and brought comfort, joy and laughter to all she met. Her last goal was to help mothers of newborns at Malta House with meaningful play and occupational therapy.

She had many passions in life beyond being the best mother and wife. Anne led a strong spiritual life and spread her faith by teaching and assisting in CCD classes, being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and going to Lourdes as a malady. She participated in many groups both giving and receiving support at Ann’s Place. She was a prolific artist and loved making personalized cards for people. Her singing needed help, but she loved music and playing her flute on snow days. She watched for hummingbirds and had two lap cats who fought over her every night. She loved sheep — every time we went to a fair, we had to touch all of them. She loved to travel, particularly to warm places, and most recently she was taking sailing lessons as we planned our retirement.

A Visitation will be held for Anne at Honan Funeral Home in Newtown on Sunday April 27, from 2-5 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Monday, April 28, at St Rose of Lima Church, also in Newtown.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Ann’s Place, a cancer support center in Danbury (annsplace.org/donate), or Malta House in Norwalk (maltahouse.org/how-you-can-help).