Joan Marilyn Fitzgerald

JOAN MARILYN (RYAN) FITZGERALD (age 86) of Locust Grove, VA, passed peacefully on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, surrounded by her four children. Born in Detroit, MI, on April 17, 1938, to Leo F. and Irene A. (Contway) Ryan, Joan is survived by her brother, James (Loretta) Ryan of Bingham Farms, MI; two sons Timothy (Stephanie) Fitzgerald of Ashburn, VA, and Michael (Lorna) Fitzgerald of Falls Church, VA; two daughters Maureen (Robert) Hash of Brandy Station, VA, and Kerry (David) Cantwell of Carolina Beach, NC; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her beloved mother, Irene, and her beloved sister-in-law and dear friend, Mary (Rogers) Ryan. Though her young family moved from Detroit to the Washington, DC, area in 1967, Joan never lost her enthusiasm for Detroit, her Detroit friendships, and her hometown teams, the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Lions. She enjoyed a long career in property management and, upon retirement, followed her passion to work with at-risk youth as a substitute teacher. As her own kids became adults, she was able to enjoy traveling domestically and internationally with her family but especially treasured her annual snowbird trips to Florida with her brother, Jim. She graduated magna cum laude from Marymount University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Joan was also very proud of her 40-year friendship with Bill W. and her personal efforts to support women in crisis. She will be best remembered for her love of life, her infectious laughter, her deep love for her family, and her unwavering kindness. A rosary recitation will take place at 9:30 am on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church, VA, followed by a funeral mass at 10 am, with burial to follow at Fairfax Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations to Catholic Charities, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation are much appreciated.