Kathleen Fitzpatrick

Kathleen Frank Fitzpatrick passed away peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 16, 2011 with members of her family at her bedside. She was 104 years old. Kathleen’s warm, strong, and giving spirit will be treasured by all her family and friends for generations to come.

Born in 1907 in Birmingham Alabama to Katie Hieber and Anthony Frank, Kathleen’s family moved to Charlotte in 1919. Their first residence was over a laundry on West Trade St. Her father, an Italian immigrant, later opened a successful and popular restaurant on Wilkinson Blvd., the Barbecue Lodge, which operated until the late 1940’s. As a young woman, Kathleen worked at Ivey’s Dept. store in downtown Charlotte. Kathleen married Raymond Fitzpatrick at Belmont Abbey in 1931. In 1948 they moved their home on Lilac Rd, next to Freedom Park where they raised three children, Mary, Tom and Bob, who survive her along with five grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Kathleen was a founding member of the Lilac Rd. Garden Club. She was the oldest living member of the Catholic Daughters in Charlotte. Raymond and Kathleen cared for each other for 63 years of marriage, worked together, owned and operated a laundry on South Blvd. and spent joyful years as active grandparents in their retirement. Their home was always open to family and friends. Kathleen was preceded in death by Raymond in 1994. She will rest next to him in the Belmont Abbey cemetery.

Kathleen was the youngest and last survivor of four extraordinary sisters of Italian/German heritage, Kathleen, Marie, Marguerite and Edna. All reared their families in Charlotte, loved and supported each other through the years and taught their children and grandchildren the values of family support and mutual respect.

At age 93, Kathleen realized a lifetime dream of visiting the Vatican in Rome. Until age 101 she was a weekly patron for swimming exercise at the Marion Diehl Recreation Center. In early 2010 at age 103, Kathleen moved to the assisted care residence, Brighton Gardens on Park South Dr. in Charlotte. The kindness and care of all the staff and the assistance of Hospice of Charlotte are greatly appreciated by the family.

A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road in Charlotte. A memorial lunch and reception will be held at 11:45 a.m. in the church hall. Burial will follow at Belmont Abbey.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Vincent’s Catholic Church or the Humane Society of Charlotte. Online condolences may be left at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com

Arrangements under the direction of McEwen Funeral Service-Pineville Chapel, Charlotte, NC.