Susan (Hellen) Fitzgerald

ATHOL- Susan Hellen Fitzgerald of Athol, formerly of Fairfield, CT, passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Susan was born in Petersham, the daughter of Fred (deceased) and Sue Hellen.

She was William Fitzgerald's beloved wife for 41 years, as well as the loving mother of Isaac Fitzgerald of Brooklyn, NY, Joel Harris of Portsmouth, NH, and step-daughter Kerry Fitzgerald Shriver of Hingham, MA.

Susan was a graduate of Mahar Regional High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Bates College and her Masters from the University of New Hampshire. She studied theology at Andover Newton Theological School.

Susan was a lifelong caring educator, especially to children needing an extra hand. She recently retired from St Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Fairfield, CT.

Susan was always a willing and companionable traveler, an avid hiker, a keen reader of books, and an ardent student of contemporary culture and art.

Susan is survived by her loving husband, William; her three children, Joel with his wife Jessica, Isaac with his partner Kelly, and Kerry with her husband, Tracy Shriver; and her four beloved grandchildren, Cecilia and Thomas Harris of Portsmouth and Chase and Pearce Shriver of Hingham. Also, her mother, Sue Hellen of Petersham, and her two sisters, Nancy Hellen of Burlington, VT, Beth Brault of Newport, VT, and aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and cousins spread near and far.  She was the sister of the late Miriam Jones.

Susan was strong, intelligent, steadfast, and most of all, generous—a caring Giver. A thoughtful contribution in Susan’s memory might be made to Haley House in Boston: https://haleyhouse.org.

There are no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, the 2nd of March, at St Peter’s  Catholic Church, 18 North Street, Petersham.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book and directions online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

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