Mildred Janes Fitzgerald

Mildred Ann Janes Fitzgerald, known to all as “Millie”, departed this life on August 18, 2015, at the University of Virginia Hospital after living courageously with several complicated health conditions for many years. Millie was born in Shinnston, West Virginia to Harlan Thompson Janes and Jessie Virginia Clise Janes on February 10, 1938. She was one of four children born to Harlan and Jessie, together with sisters Nina Lee and Nancy Carol and brother Harlan Russell (“Butch”). Millie moved to Charlottesville from Shinnston in 1956 to enter the University of Virginia School of Nursing. It was in Charlottesville that she discovered the two great loves of her life: nursing and Cosey Owen Fitzgerald (who was known as “Fitz”). Millie and Fitz married on March 11, 1960, a year after she received her nursing degree from UVA. They had three children, Doug, Elizabeth (Betsy), and Amy. Through their example, Millie and Fitz taught their children the true meaning of every vow of marriage; they experienced sickness and health, better and worse, richer and poorer. All was endured with great faith and love, and they leave their children with clear guideposts for the rest of their own lives. Millie had a very strong faith and was a long-time member of University Baptist Church which she began attending during nursing school. Over her years of membership, she was an active participant in worship services and Sunday school, and she sang in the Sanctuary Choir for more than 30 years. She was an ordained deacon and an active member of Women’s Missionary Union mission circle. In 1997, she led a group of RNs in the church to form the University Baptist Church Health Ministry and actively served in that ministry for many years. The nursing profession was Millie’s true calling, and she remained active in the School of Nursing’s alumni association for many years after her retirement in 1997. She was a proud member of the Thomas Jefferson Society. During Millie’s many recent hospitalizations, one of her favorite past times was to regale young nurses with stories of the “old days”, the white caps and the starched uniforms, when nothing was automated, when the hospital was not air conditioned and when nursing students were the only women at UVA. As her family heard frequently throughout her life and during her final days, she was an inspiration to many entering the profession. The greatest joy of Millie’s life was her grandchildren. She had her first happy taste of grandparenthood when step-grandsons Ned and Will Ryan entered her life. They were soon followed by granddaughters Jessie and Lauren Kirby and Emily Ryan. Millie’s grandchildren were her heart and soul. The happiness, love, humor and energy that her grandchildren brought to her life were the reason she worked so hard for so long to stay well. All of the grandchildren will sorely miss their Grammy. Millie was preceded in death by her parents Jessie and Harlan Janes, her sister Nancy Carol Janes, and her beloved husband Fitz. Survivors include one son, Douglas Owen Fitzgerald and his wife Casey, of Waynesboro, VA; daughter Elizabeth “Betsy” Kirby, her husband David and their children Jessica Elizabeth Kirby and Lauren Fitzgerald Kirby of Fluvanna, VA; daughter Amy Ryan, her husband Paul, and their daughter Emily Kress Ryan of Alexandria, VA; step-grandsons Edward (Ned) Sanford Ryan of San Francisco, CA and William Howland Ryan of New York, NY; sister Nina Lee Barnes and her husband Don of Lexington, KY; brother Harlan Russell (Butch) Janes and his wife Eleanor of Chocowinity, NC; and brother-in-law Cliff Smith of Smithfield, VA. Also surviving are nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held at University Baptist Church on August 29, 2015 at 1p.m. The family will receive attenders of the service at a reception in the church’s Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, Millie requested that donations in her honor be made to the University Baptist Church or the University of Virginia School of Nursing (at the Dean’s discretion). The family gratefully acknowledges the loving and personal care provided to Millie and the support provided to her family over the many years of her illness from Dr. Stephen Caldwell and from Paul Merrel.