Vera Sue Fitzgerald

Vera Sue Osborne Collins Fitzgerald was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 9, 1942 to the late Isaac and Lois M. Rippy Osborne. She was blessed to be raised by a very strong single mother during her early years and by her mother and a caring step-father, Henry Pipkins, in her teen years. Through both unions, Vera experienced rich relationships with many siblings. In addition to her parents, Vera was preceded in death by two of her brothers, Isaac and Stephen Osborne. She attended Indianapolis Public Schools #42, #56, and Crispus Attucks High School. Upon completion of high school, Vera was united in holy matrimony to James Leonard Collins Sr. To that union two children were born, James Leonard, Jr. and Cassandra Marie. In 1963, she was united in holy matrimony to Thomas Onesimus Fitzgerald, Sr. To that union three children were born, Zenophia Yvonne, Thomas Onesimus, Jr., and Leda Louise. Vera celebrated 23 years of marriage before her husband’s death in 1987. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Cassandra, in 2011. Vera obeyed the gospel and began her relationship with the Church of Christ at 23rd and Shriver, later named the Fall Creek Parkway Church of Christ. During her time at Fall Creek Parkway, Vera was affiliated with the United Sisters, the Ladies Prayer Band, the teaching staff, the choral group, and a host of community service activities. While her quiet low-key personality preferred to be in the background, her role as a minister’s wife thrusts her into leadership positions that she handled with charm and grace. To continue worshipping with her daughters, Vera placed her membership with the Kingsley Terrace Church of Christ and remained faithful until her health began to fail. Throughout her life, Vera spent many years as a homemaker. However, she had several occupational experiences. Most notably was her employment with Brummer’s Leather Goods, RCA, and Crossroads Industrial Services. In 2013, Vera celebrated her retirement from her supervisory position at Crossroads, one of her greatest occupational achievements. Vera was known for her stylish dress, her buttermilk pies, hot water cornbread, and all the trimmings for the ultimate soul food dinner. She enjoyed cooking and being with her family so much that she was a regular attendee at the annual Rippy Family Reunion and hosted our famous annual Labor Day Friends & Family Gathering. She loved music, especially the blues, and had a wonderful soprano voice. Vera was respectful, well-mannered, and a great encourager of the youth. She was most known for being a straight shooter and those who knew her well, knew she did not bite her tongue when sharing the harsh realities of life. Though sometimes offended, family and friends were quickly to forgive as they knew her heart was always in a sincere place. In Vera’s younger years, she was a track field star and the fastest girl in her neighborhood. She enjoyed dancing at St. Rita Catholic School, skating at Schofield and Rollerland, and riding motorcycles on the eastside of Indianapolis. In most recent years, she loved watching sports and certain television shows. Her favorite sport to watch was boxing. Her favorite TV shows were the news, Judge Judy, and ALL the Housewives on the Bravo channel. In recent months, Vera’s health began to rapidly decline, causing her to have many physical challenges. In spite of these difficulties, she never lost her sense of humor nor her love and appreciation for her family and friends. On September 28, 2015 at 1:50pm during surgery at Community Hospital, life’s span was exhausted and God’s will was done. God called our angel, Vera Sue Fitzgerald, at the age of 73 years, 2 months, and 21 days. She leaves to cherish her precious memory: her children James (Beverly), Z. Yvonne, Thomas (Teena), and Leda; her siblings Laura House, Marie Brown (Manual), Deborah Haskins (Louisville, KY), Ralph Pipkins, Joyce Thomas (Louisville, KY), Bobby Jean Craig Wright (Clifton), Taresia Ellis (Maurice); her grandchildren James III, Jalana, Dena, Dominique, Zenee’, Teeona, Toryan, Thomia, Tre’Von; her great grandchildren Ace, Robyn; and her special in-laws Charles Chapman, Phyllis Bailey, and Mary Fitzgerald, and a host of other relatives and friends.