Bessie Fitzpatrick O'Rourke

Mrs. Elizabeth Gay “Bessie” Fitzpatrick O’Rourke - a native and lifelong resident of Mobile, Alabama, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012; she was 96. Born November 2, 1915, she was the daughter of John Joseph Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Florence “Bessie” Turner Fitzpatrick. Mrs. O’Rourke graduated from Bishop Toolen High School in the Class of 1933, and later served as president of the Bishop Toolen High School Alumnae Association. She dedicated a lifetime of service to the Catholic Church. She was a long-time volunteer at the former St. Patrick’s Church of Mobile and later at St. Catherine of Sienna. In 1968 Pope Paul VI awarded Mrs. O’Rourke the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal, in recognition of her many years of exceptional service and devotion to the Church. Later in life, Mrs. O’Rourke was an avid traveler. She took great pleasure in organizing trips with her friends across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Her family also has many wonderful memories of travels with her through Europe. Devoted to her family and friends, she demonstrated a warmth of spirit, loyalty, generosity and wit that endeared her to all who knew her, through her final days.

Mrs. O’Rourke was preceded in death by her husband, John Ignatius “Jack” O’Rourke, and her sister, Mary Alice Fitzpatrick (Sr. Elizabeth Joseph, CSJ). She is survived by her two children, Joseph Fitzpatrick (Laura) O’Rourke of Madisonville, LA, and Mary Alice O’Rourke; two grand-daughters Mary Laura O’Rourke (Harvey “Nicky”) Nicaud of Covington, LA, and Elizabeth Gay Ruiz (Patrick) Jouve, and seven great grand-children Abigail, Ian, Claire, Luke and Genevieve Nicaud, and Mary Alice and Isabelle Jouve. The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. John McAtee, as well as to Mrs. Della Aaron, Mrs. Jeweleen Little, Mrs. Louise Toole and the nursing staff at Mobile Infirmary MICU, for their loving care of Mrs. O’Rourke.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 A.M. until 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 11, 2012, with the Rosary at 10:00 A.M. at St. Catherine of Siena Church on Spring Hill Avenue. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 A.M. Interment will be at the Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Catherine of Sienna Church and to Little Flower Church.