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Juanita Marie Fitzgerald 1934-2021

Juanita Marie Fitzgerald

10/25/34-8/12/21


Juanita Fitzgerald passed peacefully to The Lord’s care on Thursday August 12, 2021, of natural causes. Born and raised in Delaware Ohio she relocated Findlay Ohio when she married. From Findlay Ohio she relocated to Manchester CT in 1998 after the death of her husband to establish residence near family. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Manchester and a member of the dance classes and other activities at the local senior center.


Born October 25th, 1934, to Harry and Hannah Jordan of Delaware OH, sister to three brothers, Bill Jordan (Deceased), Ralph Jordan (Deceased), and Gene Jordan (Deceased). She graduated from Delaware High School and worked as a car hop and telephone switchboard operator. In 1957 she would marry a Navy man, James Russell Fitzgerald, whom she had known all her life as a friend of her younger brother Gene. After James (Jim) was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Navy in Norfolk VA, they moved to Findlay OH. He found a job at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co, where he would work for the next 40 years. Juanita would work odd jobs off and on. In Findlay is where they raised their four daughters, Pennie Marie Holitik, Candie Lee Miller, Shirley Kay Higgins, and Lisa Deanna Naftzger. Juanita was well loved in the local community and most people who knew her called her ‘mom’ because she made everyone feel like part of her family. She worked part time in the local school system and was an active member of the Trinity Baptist Church of Findlay and also active in any and all hobbies her children participated in.


Her hobbies included dancing, dressing up, hiking/walking, sledding, playing with grandkids and travel. But her passion was her garden. A collector of garden gnomes and gazing balls she enjoyed nothing more than toiling in the turf and watching the myriad of local birds that frequented her numerous feeders. Armed with her binoculars and an aviary chart she would marvel at their comings and goings for hours as they feasted on her homemade suet.

She was also an active member of the First Baptist Church of Manchester and held her faith close. She enjoyed sharing her time with her daughters and her eight grandchildren, Clayton Smith, Caran Smith, Rebecca Holitik, Jenny Hack Sharon Michnowicz, Ronnie Miller, Shane Higgins, and Tony Fitzgerald. She was also blessed with eleven great grandchildren whom she adored. She remembered everyones birthdays and other special events with cards and which many have saved. We will all remember her infectious laugh and kind demeanor fondly.


It was impossible to describe all of the wonderfully kind and loving characteristics of Juanita in this short statement so we are going to continue the conversation at the location site listed below.


Memories and condolences to share with family and friends may expressed on her Facebook Legacy page, “Remembering Juanita Fitzgerald”



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10 Comments


nlbach
Aug 19, 2021

Shirley, Steve, Shane, Lisa, Caron and Tony, and the rest of the family members I haven’t met, I am so sorry for your loss. Juanita was one of the most cheerful people I have ever met. She told funny stories that rambled in different directions because she would get side tracked and eventually many rabbit holes later would bring it all together.

What I admired about her most was her resilience. She maintained a good attitude during all kinds of adversity in her life. Even when she told difficult stories she was able to laugh and smile.


We had an unusual bond from day one because she said I looked like her best friend growing up in Delaware, Ohio,…


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Joanna Jyrkinen
Joanna Jyrkinen
Aug 19, 2021

Great grandma was one of the best people I have ever met. She was incredibly kind and passionate about everything she did. God got another angel. I love you grandma

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jenny_lady
Aug 19, 2021

Grandma was such a sweetie. I miss her detailed story-telling and her crazy energy. It wasn’t that long ago that we would join her for a workout and be put to shame as she outlasted all of us. She was a person everyone instantly loved, and we were lucky to have her in our lives.

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shig99
Aug 19, 2021

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader and for teaching us to look at the bright side of things. I owe any and all accomplishments I have made to you and God, because I know you prayed faithfully for me and also for my sisters and everyone else too. You were always a shining example of a Christian. Love you and miss you mama, but relieved that you wont suffer anymore.

Shirley Fitzgerald Higgins💞

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Lisa Naftzger
Lisa Naftzger
Aug 19, 2021

I will miss mom I know she is in heaven dancing with dad and everyone else. The little lady with the biggest smile. Save me a seat at the table I will see you when I get there love you always your daughter

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