Mary Clare “Mimi” Murphy Ariens passed away peacefully Tuesday, Sept 15 after a brief illness.

Mimi, as she was lovingly nicknamed by a childhood neighbor, was born February 16, 1933 in Green Bay. The eldest daughter and second child of Thomas Crane Murphy and Mary Ryan Egan Murphy, Mimi attended St. Joseph Academy for elementary and high school, and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, IN, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, a calling to which she would devote her life in many ways.

During her senior year of high school, on March 17, 1951, Mimi met Mike at a basketball game at St. Norbert College. When asked who won, Mimi would always reply, “I did.”

After graduating from St. Mary-of-the-Woods in 1955, Mimi taught first grade at Jackson Street Elementary School in Milwaukee’s 3rd Ward. After his service in the Army, Mike and Mimi married on August 11, 1956 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Green Bay.

Mimi and Mike moved to Bloomington, Indiana for Mike’s postgraduate education. Their first child would arrive in July 1957. Eight more children would follow.

Mimi and Mike moved to Brillion in 1959 where they made their home for the remainder of their lives.

Mimi’s life was focused on faith and family. She joined Christian Mothers, which is devoted to faith formation and community service, beginning in 1960. From 1975-1980 Mimi served on the Brillion High School board of education and concurrently taught CCD. Mimi would later serve as a Trustee of her Alma Mater, St. Mary-of-the-Woods from 1999-2008, serving as Chair from 2001 to 2005. Mimi worked with youth ministers at Spiritus Ministries, a ministry of the Mt. Tabor Center in Menasha and she and Mike were deeply involved in the Cursillo movement. Mimi and Mike received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from St. Norbert College in 1991. In 1996 they were named to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Mimi is survived by 8 children: Michael (Renee) of San Antonio, TX, Daniel (Julie) of Green Bay, Margaret (Marty) Denten of Lake Geneva, WI, Kathryn (Michael) Martell of Sturgeon Bay, WI, Peter (Didi) of Carmel, IN, Mary (Emo) Dellanina of Egg Harbor, WI, Christopher (Israel Duran) of New York City, Andrew (Brooke) of Western Springs, IL; 22 grandchildren: Stephanie Soto, Nicholas Ariens, Daniel Ariens, Caitlin Thaeler, Stephen Ariens, John Ariens, Meghan Geary, Emily Kapecki, Elise Ariens, Elizabeth Scheckel, Maria Dellanina, Michael Martell, Annie Ariens, Claire Ariens, Julia Ariens, Joseph Dellanina, Olivia Ariens, Molly Denten, Liam Denten, Jack Ariens, Chloe Ariens, Michael Ariens; 22 great-grandchildren; brother Joseph Murphy, brother-in-law Steve Ariens, sisters-in-law Audrey Murphy and Marianne Ariens and many nieces and nephews.

Mimi was preceded in death by Mike, their son Paul, her brother Thomas Murphy, sisters Margaret Murphy and Catherine Everson, sister-in-law Kathy Murphy and brother-in-law Steve Everson.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 21, 2026 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Brillion. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Matt Colle with burial at Holy Family Parish Cemetery.

The family will greet relatives and friends at Holy Family Catholic Church, Brillion, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, September 20, 2026. A Prayer Service will conclude the visitation at 7:00 p.m. Friends may also call Monday morning at church from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

Online condolences may me made www.pielhop.com

The family has chosen Pielhop Funeral Homes & Cremation Care Centers to honor Mimi’s legacy of life.