Sr. Catherine Fitzgerald, OP

Sister Catherine Fitzgerald, OP, 83, of Sacred Heart Convent, died peacefully at 1:35 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse in Springfield. Sister Catherine was born in Troy Grove, IL on August 17, 1923 the daughter of Edward and Catherine Lane Fitzgerald. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Springfield, and she professed her vows in 1942. Sister received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, and her Masters in Education from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. As a teacher and principal, Sister was known during her earlier years as Sister Thomas More. For 43 years Sister Catherine was a teacher and/or principal in Catholic parish elementary schools: St. Agnes and St. Cabrini, Springfield; Sacred Heart, Granite City; St. Mary, Paris; St. Thomas, Crystal Lake; St. Christina and St. John Bosco, Chicago; St. Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson (pioneer). She was also assigned to parishes in Michigan, California and Wisconsin. As a director and teacher of religious education for ten years in the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, a religious education program of the Springfield Diocese, she taught in the rural areas of Arcola, Brockton, Hillsboro, Hume, Raymond and Vandalia. As her last formal parish assignment, Sister Catherine enjoyed being a parish helper at Immaculate Conception Parish, Shelbyville (1996-2001). When Sister Catherine “retired” to the Motherhouse in 2001, she became a certified reflexologist and used this skill to bring comfort and relief to many of her Dominican sisters. Throughout her life, her interests included traveling, gardening, knitting and music. Sister Catherine was preceded in death by her parents; and four brothers: Joseph, William, John (Pat) and Francis (Chance) Fitzgerald. She is survived by three sisters: Camilla (Peg) Kerns and Blanche Schmidt, both of Mendota and Mary Henseler of Rock Island; two brothers: Rev. Vincent Fitzgerald, OMI of Belleville and James (wife Barbara) of Warren, MI; several nieces and nephews; and by her Dominican Sisters with whom she lived and ministered for 66 years. Family will receive friends from 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 18, 2006 at Sacred Heart Convent Motherhouse, 1237 W. Monroe, Springfield. There will be a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at Sacred Heart Convent with Rev. Peter Witchousky, OP as presider. The Final Commendation and Burial Service will follow with burial at Calvary Cemetery. The family and Dominican Sisters of Sister Catherine Fitzgerald, OP are being served by Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.