Joan G. Fitzgerald

Dateline: Godfrey Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Joan Marie Garrow Fitzgerald passed away peacefully at St. Anthony’s Health Center on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 8:40 a.m. Born in Chicago on February 8, 1931, she was the daughter of Robert G. and Josephine Cole Garrow. She graduated from St. Barnabas Grade School, the Academy of Our Lady at Longwood and Mundelein Catholic Girls College of Chicago with a Bachelor of Science degree. She taught school in the Chicago Public School System prior to her marriage. Joan was also a substitute teacher at St. Patrick’s and Sts. Peter and Paul grade schools in Alton. On May 7, 1955, she entered into the Sacrament of Matrimony with Emmett Fitzgerald at Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church in Chicago. Her husband survives. Joan is survived by six adult children, four sons and two daughters: Timothy and his wife Kelly of Macomb, Illinois; Michael and his wife Susan of Godfrey, Illinois, Peter and his wife Michelle of Edwardsville, Illinois; Daniel and his wife Stephanie of Godfrey, Illinois; Kathleen of Godfrey, Illinois and Maura and her husband John Sedlack of Chicago. Joan is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Christopher, Ryan, Michael S., David, Molly, Patrick, Joseph, Maria, and Jane Fitzgerald and John E. Sedlack, and two great grandchildren, Michael J. and Katie Fitzgerald. Joan also had a brother, William F. Garrow who preceded her in death. Joan was a member of St. Patrick’s Church of Alton for many years and then a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton. Joan loved her life and roles of wife, mother, grandmother, friend, teacher, homemaker, cook, coach, golfer, gardener, shopper and confidant, among others. She also loved Chicago, Notre Dame and Lake Ozark. Visitation will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Fourth and Henry Streets, Alton, on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be offered at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Father Jim Walther will be the celebrant. Interment will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Godfrey. Memorials may be offered to the Ursuline Sisters Convent for its Infirmary, Marquette Catholic High School, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Anthony’s Hospital Hospice or the American Parkinson’s Disease Association at Campus Box 8111, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is in charge of arrangements. PDF Printable Version

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Joan G. Fitzgerald

February 8, 1931 - February 13, 2011