Elizabeth "Betty" (McDonnell) Fitzgerald

Elizabeth (Betty) McDonnell Fitzgerald, 97, a longtime resident of Ridgefield, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025 at Meadow Ridge in Redding.

Born on August 23, 1927 in New Haven, CT, Betty grew up in Hamden, CT, spending many summers in East Haven at her grandparents' house on the beach.

She graduated from Hamden High School, and from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT, where she served as class president for four years. While at Albertus, Betty met Bill Fitzgerald when he was a student at Yale University. After graduation, while waiting for a teaching position to become available, Betty took a job at The American Heart Association in NYC. When the opportunity to teach French and American History became available, Betty took the position at St. Mary's High School in New Haven.

Betty and Bill married on June 21st, 1952, and moved to Poughkeepsie, NY, when Bill took a job with IBM. While with IBM, the family moved to Lake Katrine, NY, Walnut Creek, CA, and Hurley, NY, before settling in the Westmoreland neighborhood in Ridgefield.

Betty, a devout Catholic, was a daily communicant at St. Mary's Parish where she taught CCD for many years. She volunteered at numerous kids sporting events, counted absentee ballots on Election Days, and meal preparation at Meals On Wheels for over 40 years. When her youngest graduated from high school, Betty played more tennis and took up golf. She spent many happy years playing at the Ridgefield Golf Course and at many other courses around the country and world, culminating in one of her favorites, the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. Betty served as Ridgefield Ladies Golf Association president and enjoyed many years playing bridge with her friends at Founders Hall.

She was predeceased by her parents Gertrude McGrail McDonnell and Bernard McDonnell, her sister Mary Butler, brothers John and Vincent McDonnell, her husband of 59 years, Dr. William J. Fitzgerald, Jr., brother-in-law John “Jack” Fitzgerald, granddaughter Melissa Fitzgerald and nephews Edward McDonnell and John Fitzgerald.

Betty is survived by her children Ann (George Haug, deceased), Bill (Lynn), Bob, Diane F. Bell (Ken, deceased), Tom (Patricia), grandchildren Katelyn, Janel (Anthony, Fiancee), and Stephen (Jenn) Fitzgerald, sister-in-law Marian Fitzgerald, nephews and nieces; Ann McDonnell Sterback, Rick Fitzgerald, Michael Fitzgerald, Patti Gervais, Jimmy Fitzgerald, Mary Beth Butler, Bill Butler, and Maureen Beall.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderfully compassionate caregivers at Meadow Ridge and the RVNA Regional Hospice.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 10:30 AM in Saint Mary's Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. There will be no calling hours; interment will take place privately. Contributions in Betty's honor may be made to Meals On Wheels of Ridgefield or St. Mary's Church.

Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield is in care of arrangements.

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