Ethel V. Fitzgerald, 89, of Thurmont, MD, passed away Monday, November 9, 2015, peacefully and surrounded by her loving family at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
Born November 5, 1926 in Foxville, MD, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Catherine (Lewis) Hurley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Fitzgerald, December 23, 1995. They were married for 46 years.
Ethel was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Emmitsburg, MD. She enjoyed donating her homemade baked goods and her famous peanut butter fudge to the American Legion Post 0768 in Thurmont of which she was also a member.
She enjoyed the beauty of living on the farm and cooking and canning a variety of fruits and vegetables right up until her last days, and shared them with her friends and family. Her door was always open and people loved just dropping by for a visit. They were always welcomed and made to feel at home both by her beautiful smile and a sampling of the delicious offerings from her kitchen! She loved to watch and identify the many species of birds which dined daily at the feeders by her deck overlooking the creek. She loved all kinds of flowers and gardening, and her home was adorned with their beauty.
Faith and Family were the most important things in Ethel’s life and her children never lacked for love. She took great pride in the Hurley side of her family, having been born an identical twin at home assisted by her grandmother who was a midwife. She was very proud of her Irish heritage and fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to Ireland with family at the age of 78. She was the oldest in the group to climb the castle steps and kiss the Blarney Stone. She spent her life giving love to her family.
Surviving her are children: Edward and wife, Ruthie of Fayetteville, PA, Barbara McElroy and husband, Mike of Harrisburg, PA, Patrick of Westminster, MD and John and wife, Deborah of Thurmont; daughter-in-law, Debra of Kearneysville, WV; grandchildren, Shannon, Samantha, Kelly, Eddie, Erin, Kate, Leila, and Amber; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Richard and Kevin Fitzgerald; as well as three brothers and three sisters.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, November 13th at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 104 East Main Street, Thurmont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, November 14, 2015 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 103 N. Church Street, Thurmont with Reverend Charles Conner officiating. She will be laid to rest at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Emmitsburg, MD.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.
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