Catherine Kaye Theresa Fitzgerald

Oct.23, 1921 – July 9, 2012

Kaye Fitzgerald passed away peacefully at the Cove Guest Home in Sydney, on July 9, at the age of 90, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. She was the youngest of ten children of Harold (1883-1958) and Barbara (Merchant) Doyle (1881-1923). She lived her entire life in Sydney.

Kaye graduated from Holy Angels High School the day Canada declared war on Germany in 1939. She then attended the Cape Breton Business College.

Kaye enjoyed working at the Bank of Montreal in Sydney before she was married in 1947, and continued to use her financial management expertise, both at home and at various part-time jobs over the years. Kaye first met her husband Pat at the bank when he dropped by as a customer and they exchanged a few friendly words. They met again the next day, by chance, while skating at the old Sydney Forum and their year long courtship involved mostly skating and long walks. She was a long time active member of St. Theresa’s Parish Catholic Women’s League (CWL). She was known and appreciated for her many skills, including quilting, needlepoint, sewing, and fabulous baking. She was active in family genealogy research, writing letters far and wide to question and verify family history and connections.

She will be sadly missed by her husband of 65 years, Ralph Patrick (Pat) Fitzgerald, still living in the family home on Cabot St., her daughter Dorothy (Andy Willan), Hamilton, sons Art, St. Louis, Owen (Joyce), Sydney, and Frank (Cathy), Newmarket, Ont. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Ryan and Kevin Fitzgerald, St. Louis, Meagan and Nick Willan, Hamilton, Bradley and Gregory Fitzgerald, Newmarket, Ont., Sheri Fitzgerald-Neal, Sydney, Scott Fitzgerald, Toronto, Lori (Lahey) Sydney, Leanne Fitzgerald, Halifax and John Patrick Fitzgerald, Sydney. Kaye is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Brittney, Kyler, Liam and Sophie.

Kaye was predeceased by her son Jack in 1979, sisters Margaret Foley, Eveleen Cullen, Barbara Gough, and Mary in childhood (1922), and brothers Harry, Joe, Frank, Jim and Terry Doyle. Kaye was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

We extend special thanks to the staff of the Cove Guest Home for their excellent care and compassion during the past four years.

Visitation will take place on Wed, July 11 from 2-4, and 7-9 pm at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel, 755 George St, Sydney. A funeral mass will be held at St. Theresa’s Church, Whitney Ave., Sydney, on Thurs, July 12, at 10 am. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. In lieu of flowers we request that a donation be made to the Alzheimer Society.