Catherine E. Fitzgerald

Catherine Ellen Fitzgerald, 81, of Concord, New Hampshire passed away peacefully on October 3, 2023, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts surrounded by her family. She was born in Needham, Massachusetts to the late John B. Henderson and Catherine T. (Leary) Henderson. Catherine brought joy and laughter to all who knew her. Her selflessness when it came to her family and friends, willingness to jump wholeheartedly into any activity, and complete devotion to her grandchildren were just some of her many admirable qualities.

After graduating from Quakertown High School in Quakertown, Pennsylvania in 1960, Catherine worked as an administrative assistant in a law firm. In April 1964, Catherine married her husband, Dennis Fitzgerald. After several earlier moves, they settled in Wilmot, New Hampshire in 1978 where they lived for nearly 20 years and where they raised their two children. Catherine worked in the school counseling offices at Kearsarge Regional Elementary School and later at Kearsarge Regional High School. She worked at the Country Press (now Echo Communications) in New London, New Hampshire following her work in the schools. She was such a devoted reader of the Kearsarge Shopper produced by her former employer, that she had friends continue to share copies after moving to Concord, New Hampshire in 1997. In Concord, Catherine continued her work in a child-related field helping families of children with special health-care-related needs at Family Voices until her retirement in 2009.

Catherine’s enthusiasm for life was evident in her numerous passions and hobbies. One of Catherine’s favorite activities was sharing her love of animals and nature with her grandchildren - whether leading them on adventure walks in the woods, searching for turtles at a local pond, or visiting the animals at the Audubon Society or local farms (always with a stop for ice cream along the way!). Watching and feeding the birds (and by default, the squirrels) at her many feeders, taking her daily walks, making cookies for her neighbors, and participating in the East Concord Garden Club also kept her busy. Catherine loved the beach, and she could often be found walking in the shallow waters of Short Sands Beach in York, Maine searching for shells and sand dollars. Catherine was a yard sale expert - strategically mapping her stops each Saturday with her pockets full of change. She also hosted one of the customer-proclaimed ‘most organized and clean’ family yard sales in Concord each year in her driveway. She even had repeat customers who waited for her sale each year!

In addition to her loving husband of 59 years, Dennis Fitzgerald, and their rescue cat, Phoebe, Catherine is survived by her daughter, Karen (Fitzgerald) Collins, and husband Scott Collins of Londonderry, New Hampshire; her son, Steven Fitzgerald, and wife Cheri Fitzgerald of Concord, New Hampshire; grandchildren, Katie (Collins) Toral and husband Jon Toral, Kira Collins, Andrew Fitzgerald, Justin Fitzgerald, and Kaley Fitzgerald; her sisters, Margaret Tyson and Patricia Moran; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents, Catherine was preceded in death by her sister Mary Henderson, and her brother John Henderson.

Calling hours for Catherine will be held Monday, October 16, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main Street, Concord, New Hampshire, followed by a short service in the Chapel at Bennett Funeral Home. Please join the family for a Celebration of Life light brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Bennett Funeral Home Reception Hall. Burial will be at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Pope Memorial SPCA, Concord, New Hampshire (or your favorite local animal shelter).