Eleanor Irene Fitzgerald

Eleanor Fitzgerald, age 101, longtime resident of Oak Lawn, IL, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2022 at her Alsip residence. She will be remembered as a magical person, always filled with joy, with her favorite saying “Every day’s a bonus!” Eleanor will be dearly missed by her son, Michael (Diane) Fitzgerald, granddaughter Kristin (Matthew) Wiest, grandson Scott Fitzgerald, great grandson Ryan (Sarah) Fitzgerald, great granddaughter Emma Frey, four great great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, as well as her steadfast caregiver, Maureen O’Brien. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Bernard Fitzgerald, sisters Glendoris “Doree” Olson and Margaret Fox, son Patrick Fitzgerald, granddaughter Patricia Fitzgerald, and great granddaughter Taylor Fitzgerald. Due to COVID, a private celebration of her life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Saint Patrick’s Residence, 1400 Brookdale Rd, Naperville, IL 60563.

Eleanor Fitzgerald was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 2nd, 1920. Her 100th birthday bash had to be postponed due to Covid.

Miss Ellie spent most of her childhood living in Lyndon Station, WI which is not far from Wisconsin Dells. The population was 480 in 2018. No one knew until she was in her 80’s that she once met John Dillinger through her step-father who was a bootlegger during prohibition and would drop off booze at their hideout, the Little Bohemia Lodge in Northern Wisconsin. Family members didn’t find out about this until she was in her 80’s because she was afraid to talk about it before that, especially since both her husband and youngest son retired from ATF.

She married Bernard Fitzgerald, a truly selfless man, when she was 18 years old. They were married 62 years and were inseparable, dedicated to each other until his death in 2000.

After they married, they moved to Washington, D.C., weathered the Great Depression there and eventually settled in Chicago’s Southwest Side along with numerous other Irish Catholic families. Her career was raising her two sons and tending to responsibilities as a homemaker and having hobbies that included cooking up a storm, gardening and being known as a most excellent dancer, especially when it came to kicking up her heels while dancing to a Polka at wedding receptions!

Fast forward through the Great Depression, seven decades of wars and World events to the early 1990’s when her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The diagnosis itself would throw most people into a tailspin, especially in this case when her husband insisted on performing all of the head of household duties. That’s just the way things were done back in the day.

The way she dealt with this life changing event was inspirational! She had to take the reins of the household including learning how to drive and basically take charge of everything that her husband did. This also included being the sole caregiver to her husband for 6 years until the time came in 1998 when he became a resident at St. Patrick’s residence in Naperville where he passed away.

Hard to imagine someone learning how to drive when they are in their seventies, but she did. She drove until she was 96 and renewed her license every year as Illinois law requires. She always met her challenges head on with an independent streak that rivals few. All the while, maintaining a really, really positive approach, being one of those social people who never met a stranger.

An illustration of this is when greeted by someone and asked how she’s doing, she invariably works in her favorite saying, “Every day’s a Bonus!” So much so that when she would walk into her senior hangout at the McDonalds at 104th and Cicero, the people there would routinely exclaim, “Here comes the Bonus Lady!” This positivity most likely contributed to why she always looked a good 20 years younger than she was. When she hit 70, she looked 50!

Her positive attitude is that much more impressive when one considers that life dealt her one of the hardest blows a parent can experience.

Her eldest son, Patrick, enlisted during the Vietnam War and … as the song goes, “one hundred men will test today but only 3 win the Green Beret.” Pat was one of the three. He had a distinguished military career, served a tour of active duty in Vietnam and received two Purple Hearts. He helped pioneer the HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) Program where paratroopers would freefall 30,000 feet and open their parachutes below enemy radar to do reconnaissance missions in Laos and Cambodia. The HALO Program is still used by the Military Today.

On September 11th, 1979, she lost Patrick to a motorcycle accident in Peotone, Illinois when he was 32.

If ever one could be tested to not sink into a negative outlook of the world, this was surely one of those tests. To be frank, it sent the family into a tailspin for quite some time but Miss Ellie overcame this tragedy to be her family’s example that even tragic events can be overcome. Through thick and thin, she has always led by example and is an inspiration to her family and friends.

Finally, when asked about her aging secrets, she said “No smoke. No sun. Ponds Facial Cream every night before bed, a whole lot of positive attitude and keeping active.” She also had a very strong faith and believed that living a long full life has a lot to do with having a guardian angel that is willing to work gobs of overtime!

In some respects, she could be called the “Miracle Lady” with all the close calls she has had in life. Too many to list here. Like most folks, Covid and age in general, had diminished her active lifestyle but she could still give you a thumbs up and say, “Every day’s a Bonus!”