Florence Pauline Fitzgerald
Born In: Birch Grove, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: May 14th, 2011
Florence Pauline Fitzgerald, 92, of Sydney peacefully made her journey to be with God surrounded by her loving family Saturday May 14, 2011, at Cape Breton Regional Hospital following a brief illness.
She was the daughter of late John James and Mary (Kyte) MacDonald.
She was a lifelong resident of the Sydney area. Born in Birch Grove, she moved as a young child to Grand Lake Road area attending Lakevale School. Following school, she continued to live at home for a couple of years caring for her mother. She married her husband Mike in 1946 and soon became a busy stay-at-home mother with eight children — five girls and three boys. She was very involved in her children’s activities and lives.
She taught Brownies and was one of the founding members of St. Theresa’s parish CWL. She was a lifelong supporter of Irish heritage and culture in Cape Breton and was an active member of the Irish Benevolent Society. Flora and Mike were instrumental in the establishment of what was known as the Fitzgerald School of Irish Dancing. One of Flora’s biggest contributions to the Irish was spending countless hours sewing shamrocks on the performance dresses and she organized the Irish displays and prepared her famous Irish Soda Bread and Fish Cakes for everyone to enjoy.
She was a fun, humorous individual who loved attending gatherings with family and friends. She loved to tell jokes and always wanted to hear new ones so she could add them to her repertoire. Her zest for life was evident in everything she did — she won many trophies and awards over the years playing darts and bowling. She enjoyed playing checkers with 16 grandchildren and to the end she always made sure she got her exercise physically and mentally.
She was dearly loved and treasured. She touched the lives of all who knew her and she will be very sadly missed and fondly remembered by everyone.
She is survived by her husband Mike Fitzgerald of 64 years; her children and grandchildren, Kevin (Shirla) Toronto, Michael (Jackie), Sean, David and Kyle-Dartmouth, Mary Lou-Danna, Becky, Chad, London, Ont., Kathie (Steve), Melanie, Jeffrey, Stephanie, Dartmouth, Theresa (Andy), Ashley, Jenna, Amy, Calgary, Alta., Renie-Lyndsey, Craig, Sydney, Terry (Tracey), Lauren, Halifax, Elaine (Lawrence), Victoria, Dartmouth. Mom is also survived by Blanche MacDonald, sister-in-law and lifelong friend.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Ellen and Catherine, and brothers, Charlie, George, John and Edward.
The late Flora Fitzgerald will be resting at the T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel, today (Monday, May 16) from 7-9 p.m. and Tuesday, May 17 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 18, at St. Theresa’s Church, Sydney, with Fr. James Oliver officiating. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Osteoporosis Society.
Online condolences can be sent to www.twcurry.com.
