Judy Yang-Murawski, 69, a 40-year resident of Oak Park and staunch advocate of diversity and multiculturalism, died after a 21-month fight with pancreatic cancer, on Jan. 13, 2026, two weeks before her 70th birthday.
She grew up in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago before her parents, Thaddeus and Grace Yang, moved her and her sister Theresa to Skokie. She attended Niles East High School and entered the University of Illinois at the age of 16. She completed her major in special education there and also met her husband, Dennis Murawski. She earned a graduate degree later in special education at Northeastern Illinois University, then accepted a teaching position with the Oak Park elementary schools (District 97) where she taught children with diverse learning needs for 36 years at Whittier and Longfellow schools. She bonded with a loyal group of teachers affectionately known as “The Eight Balls.”
She became renowned for her magnificent gardens which she meticulously cultivated. When she and Dennis moved back to her home in Skokie, she maintained her mother’s garden, resulting in winning that suburb’s Beautification Award.
An accomplished artist, she created amazing pieces in a variety of different domains: stained glass, elaborate wall hangings, paintings, colorful woven baskets, and intricate origami objects.
In August, Judy was able to delay her chemotherapy in order to visit Scotland. Having read all of the Game of Thrones and Harry Potter books, she sought to visit the land of dragons, contending that the dragon was her spirit animal.
Her participation in a clinical trial at UIC showed progress, but she became too weak to continue it. She hoped that her inclusion would possibly help future cancer patients.
Judy is survived by her husband, Dennis; her sister, Theresa; her son, Nathan and his wife Christine, daughter Aleia, her partner Sam; and her French bulldogs, Chloe and Puck.
Her Celebration of Life will be held at the North Shore Unitarian Church, in Deerfield, on Feb. 21, starting at 2 p.m. Wear something with the color purple, with a dragon design, or with anything bold or playful.
In lieu of flowers, make donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, pancan.org.
