Mary Jane Fitzgerald

A memorial service for Mary Jane Fitzgerald will be held on Wednesday, February 23rd at 10:00am at Blanche Beck Memorial Chapel at Pioneer Manor Chapel. Chaplain Bob Rudichar will officiate. An additional memorial service will be conducted in Visalia California later in the spring. Family and friends of Mary Jane will be notified in advance of this service. Mary Jane Fitzgerald, age 87, passed away Thursday, February 10, 2011 at Pioneer Manor in Gillette, Wyoming. Mary Jane was born June 13, 1923 to William and Ethel Diehl of River Forest, Illinois. She lived in the Chicago area with her family, surviving the Great Depression, graduated from the Luther Institute with a two-year degree in Secretarial Science, witnessed firsthand the rise and fall of the Al Capone crime syndicate, skated on frozen ponds in the winter and watched the Cubs play baseball in the summer, and finally moved west with her family in 1946 to Pasadena, California. She began working at a law firm in Pasadena, and while living there she met her future husband, Raymond Thomas Fitzgerald. Mary Jane and Ray were married on February 16, 1952 and moved to Visalia, California where they established their first home. They were blessed with two children, Mary Naomi and William Andrew. Mary Jane worked at the law firm of McCormick, Moock and McCormick for nearly forty years. She was a highly accomplished legal secretary who took great pride in her work, in knowing the law nearly as well as the attorneys for whom she worked, and in keeping her boss, Walter McCormick, in line.Until Ray's death in February 2002, they lived in their favorite town of Visalia and enjoyed a home surrounded by walnut trees, orange trees, ivy-covered fences, and roses. Mary Jane enjoyed living in California, she loved the LA Dodgers, and she would sit for hours by the pool at her home enjoying the sunshine and a cold beer. Her favorite dog, Tiger, was a steady companion and comfort following the loss of her husband, Ray. In 2006, she moved to Gillette Wyoming to be near her son's family. She became a resident at the Pioneer Manor Nursing Home and met her special roommate and friend Dee Payne. Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband Ray, her parents, her brother William and sister Harriet, and her step-son Mike. Mary Jane is survived by her daughter Mary Litzsinger of Simi Valley California, her son Andy Fitzgerald of Gillette Wyoming, her step-son Tom Fitzgerald of Exeter California, her step-daughter Jerry Fitch of Corning California, and her step-daughter Juanita George of Medford Oregon. She is also survived by her beloved brother John Diehl of Monrovia California, her grandchildren Courtney Williams of Las Vegas, Nevada, Karey Williams of Chicago, Illinois, and Hanna, Keenan, Connor, and Ian Fitzgerald all of Gillette, Wyoming, as well as two great-grandchildren Ethan and Kloey Fitzgerald, also of Gillette. Memorials should be directed to the Pioneer Manor Foundation in care of the Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences may be sent via the Internet at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com.Funeral Home:Walker Funeral Home410 Medical Arts CourtGillette, WYUS 82716