Kathleen Fitzgibbon's Obituary
Kathleen R. Fitzgibbon (nee Guidera), 93, of Ashburn, VA passed away on March 1, 2024.
Kathleen “Kathy” was born November 20, 1930, in Newark, New Jersey to John and Rosemary (Dunn) Guidera. She was the youngest of three children, born four years to the day after her beloved older sister, Jane. Kathy attended Catholic schools, including graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair.
While on a weekend trip to Belmar, NJ with friends, Kathy met the love of her life, John T. “Jack” Fitzgibbon. After a bit of “fibbing” to him that she enjoyed a beer or two, the two soon became inseparable and were married on August 29, 1953. The couple started their married lives as a military couple while Jack attended Army Officer Candidate School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. A year later, with Jack deployed to Korea, Kathy gave birth to the first of their four children. After Jack’s return from Korea, Kathy and Jack moved from Newark to the suburb of Florham Park, NJ, buying their first home and becoming active in the community as their family grew.
Kathy and Jack had two sons and two daughters, and those children were the cornerstones and loves of Kathy’s life. She was involved in all aspects of their lives, serving as a Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader, Coach, and overall enthusiastic supporter of any and all of her children’s activities. She was also a devout Catholic and a steadfast supporter of her Church. She worked with the Rosary Society, The Christ Child Society, and Easter Seals, holding a variety of board and leadership positions.
In 1975, a job transfer for Jack brought Kathy and Jack to a new home in Pittsburgh, PA. While she missed New Jersey, Kathy quickly acclimated into her new community. She continued her work with the Church and became active at Wildwood Country Club, the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She enjoyed time on both the courts and the course as she continued to play tennis and learned golf. After two of her children had graduated from college and a third was nearly finished, but while the youngest was still in grade school, Kathy made the bold step of enrolling in the University of Pittsburgh where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. She was always interested in learning more and talking to her children and others about current events and politics.
Jack’s retirement allowed Jack and Kathy to travel in earnest. They traveled throughout most of Europe and Australia and had wonderful experiences with dear friends. They also enjoyed Christmas trips with the family to sunny locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii. Kathy loved keeping travel logs of all of these trips, but a favorite was a family trip to Ireland in 2003 in celebration of her and Jack’s 50th wedding anniversary.
In 2016, Jack and Kathy moved to a retirement community in Ashburn, VA to be near their youngest daughter, Karen. Kathy and Jack met many new friends and enjoyed the activities in their new home. In February 2021, after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, Jack passed away while Kathy continued her life with her focus on family.
Kathy always had a quiet grace. She was never the loudest person in the room, but she was always in the room – present and engaged. She made every event more special by the love and attention she gave to each person she encountered. She will be greatly missed as a devoted mother and friend.
Kathy is predeceased by Jack, her beloved husband of 67 years, and her sons John W. “Jack” and Brian T. Kathy lived her life with a unique combination of grace and determination, and her spirit will live on through her daughters Mary Joan (Carrollton, TX) and Karen A. (Reston, VA) and her many loving nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024, at 10:30am at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, Ashburn, VA.
Share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com.
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