Obituary: Katherine Ann (Murphy) Hacker

Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory​.

Katherine Ann (Murphy) Hacker

Katherine, known as “Cottie”, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer, at her daughter’s home surrounded by the love of family.

Cottie was born on August 16, 1934 in Joliet to Thomas and Katherine (Lamb) Murphy, a graduate of St. Raymond’s in 1948 and St. Francis Academy in 1952.

Cottie worked various jobs including a clerk at the Will County Treasures office, admissions representative at Villa Franciscan Nursing Home, a clerk at Marklez Office Products, and her favorite job, an administrator at Will County Humane Society in the 70s and 80s. This job reflected her caring nature and love for animals. At one time, she had 12 dogs living with her, most of who were unadoptable. Cottie gave them a loving home. Over her lifetime she had over 30 dogs and 18 cats, plus the feral cats on the porch.

Cottie was a devout Catholic. She loved getting dressed up on Saturday nights and attending political events with her husband Bob for 34 years, as well as her bridge clubs and doing anything and everything with her cherished friend, Joan McAsey Rommel.

Cottie loved decorating the house for every holiday, with Christmas being the favorite and the largest, having 35 Christmas Trees all around the house of various sizes. St. Patrick’s Day was a close second, being that she was very proud of her Irish heritage. Later in life, St. Patrick’s decorations remained up year round. Cottie enjoyed traveling to Florida every Easter, spending time with family and having Sunday dinners for many years with her daughter, Diane and grandson, Christofer Keay.

Cottie is survived by her daughter, Diane Hacker; five grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; her dog, Daisy; her brother and sister in law Richard and Mary Fran Murphy.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Katherine Murphy; her husband, Robert G. “Bob” Hacker (2022); her son, David R. Hacker (2014); her brother, Raymond (Jean) Murphy, and her sister Jacqueline (Leo) Klainsek.

All friends and relatives are invited to gather on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor Avenue in Joliet where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, IL, where she will be laid to rest next to her parents, as her son is laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Joliet, in the Hacker family plot.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Cottie’s name to your favorite pet rescue.

For more information please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.

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