Doris Jane Fitzgerald

Doris Jane Fitzgerald of Thurmont went home to heaven to be with her Savior Jesus on January 20, 2023.
Doris was born on June 6, 1931, in Frederick, Maryland, to Dorothy E. Wastler. Doris was lovingly raised by her grandparents Charles B. and Margaret “Mommy” Wastler in their home on Roddy Road, Thurmont. 

Doris married her high school sweetheart Donald “Mike” Fitzgerald in 1948 after they graduated together from Thurmont High School. In the early 1950s, just a few hundred yards from her grandparents, Mike and Doris hand built a log home where they raised their nine children. Doris resided her entire life of 91 years on Roddy Road.

In 1963 Doris and Mike established the well-liked Shamrock Restaurant which the family operated for fifty-seven years. Doris was fondly known at the Shamrock as “Mrs. Fitz” by many employees, friends, and patrons. She had a uniquely close friendship with her mother-in-law Naomi Powell Fitzgerald who cooked at the Shamrock in the early years.

Doris was very active in the Mother Seton School PTA, Emmitsburg, and as president and member of the Church Council of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Thurmont. She volunteered at the Victor Cullen Center, Sabillasville, helping handicapped adults.

Doris was predeceased in 2016 by Donald “Mike” Fitzgerald, her husband of sixty-seven years. They lost their first son Douglas E. Fitzgerald, age 1, to leukemia in 1949. They lost an infant daughter in 1959, their grandson Christopher J. Demmon (son of Donna and TJ) in 1991 and grandson Douglas J. Knox (son of Dawn and Donald) in 2011.

Doris is survived by nine children, Donna J. Demmon (and Thomas J., Thurmont), Dennis A. Fitzgerald (and Dianne, Huntsville, AL), Dawn E. Knox (and Donald, Taneytown), Diane M. Stottlemyer (and David, Thurmont), Debra F. Oster (Thurmont), Daniel T. Fitzgerald (and Heather, Emmitsburg), David M. Fitzgerald (and Bonny, Emmitsburg), Darrell J. Fitzgerald (Frederick), Dean C. Fitzgerald (and Brady, Thurmont). Doris is survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and close cousin Georgette Stitely.

The family expresses deepest appreciation to their sister Debra Oster for her faithful, devoted and loving management of their mother’s care for many years. Doris will be lovingly remembered and missed by her caregivers: Bonnie, Jenn, Lavina, granddaughters Kathleen and Erin, Paulette, Sipiwe and special friend “Snickers”. Tremendous appreciation is also extended to brother Dennis and his family for the many weeks he spent away from sweet home Alabama to be by Mama’s side day and night since before Christmas.

Like her husband before her, Doris will be laid to rest in a beautiful casket hand-crafted by many members of her loving family, particularly son Dean and grandsons Dillon, Declan, Rowan, and Liam. The cherry wood was actually selected years ago by her late husband Mike.

The family will receive friends at Stauffer Funeral Home in Thurmont, MD, 104 East Main Street, Thurmont, MD on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 from 5-7 PM, and on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from 1-3 PM and 5-7 PM.

A Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on January 26, 2023 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 103 N Church St, Thurmont, MD 21788. A fellowship luncheon will follow services in the church hall. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 PM at Saint Anthony’s Shrine Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg, and Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Thurmont.