Joan Gray Fitzgerald

Joan Gray Fitzgerald
1931 - 2023
Joan Gray Fitzgerald, 92, was called safely home on Sunday, October 22, 2023 at JGS Lifecare in Longmeadow, MA. Joan was born in Chicopee on January 17, 1931, the daughter of the late William Munsie Gray and Hazel M. Thompson Gray. Joan was a long-time resident of Chicopee, and was predeceased by her husband, Edward James Fitzgerald, Jr., in 2022. Joan was educated in the Chicopee public schools, and was a graduate of Chicopee High School. Following her graduation from high school, she was employed at the former A. G. Spalding in Chicopee. After taking time off to raise her family, Joan later began a second career as a licensed Realtor for Hamelin Real Estate, Inc. Joan was very active in the local community, and was a volunteer for many local civic and social groups, including serving as a poll worker for the City of Chicopee, and volunteering as a “noon mother” and a member of the PTA at Lambert-Lavoie school. Joan was a long-time parishioner of the former St. Mary’s Church in Willimansett, where she and her husband were married in 1965, and where she served as a member of the St. Mary’s Women’s Guild. Joan was predeceased by her parents, her stepfather, Thomas J. Ball, her husband, Edward, her two sisters, June Gray and Dorothy Gray McCue, her sister-in-law, Geraldine M. Fitzgerald, and her great-niece, Meghan M. Butler. She leaves behind to honor her memory her two sons, Michael E. Fitzgerald and his partner, Cris Perry, Gary G. Fitzgerald and his wife, Cheryl, her grandson, Patrick M. Fitzgerald, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including David McCue and his wife Frances of San Diego, CA, Daniel McCue and his wife Anne of Australia, Hazelann Mattimore and her husband Bryan of Chicopee, and Patricia Butler and her husband Kieron of Stamford, CT. Joan’s family would like to thank and acknowledge Hazel and Trish for their lifelong love and devotion to their Auntie Joan. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Brunelle Funeral Home, 811 Chicopee Street, Chicopee, MA, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 56 St. Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA. Immediately following, will be the Rite of Committal and Burial in St. Rose de Lima Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to the Holyoke Medical Center, Development Office, 575 Beech Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 or at https://www.holyokehealth.com/give-now/donate