Mary Fitzgerald

Mary Annette Fitzgerald 

December 21st 1950 - August 21st 2025

It is with great sadness that the family of Mary announces her sudden passing on August 21st 2025. at the age of 74 on Vancouver Island in the City of Nanaimo BC 

Mary was born in North Sydney on Cape Breton Island N.S  she was the 15 child to Late John Thomas and Eunice Fitzgerald (nee Brown) of Dingwall on December 21st 1950 

Mary was beloved Mother & Mother in Law to TerryLynn & Anthony Marks, of Ladysmith B.C. Nan to MacKenzie & Dakoda, of Ladysmith B.C. Emma & Jesse, of Comox B.C.  Jarae, of Red Deer AB, Tyler(Kailey) of RedDeer AB/ Vernon B.C. and Annaka of St.Albert AB and she loved her “New” Title Great grandmother aka MeMe to 1 yr old Oliver & and 9 day old Delilah. 

Beloved Sister & Sister in law to Christene McCarthy, Leona & Terry Wilton and Helen Fitzgerald all of Corner Brook NL. Angus and Connie Daisley of Moncton N.B Also an Aunt, great Aunt and Great great Aunt to many Nieces and Nephews right across Canada from B.C. right to NL and USA. She was also blessed with 2 special families Marty and Sandy McVannel (Zach and Josh and also Finnegan) and Leanne McVannel.

Mary was predeceased by her partner of 22 years Gary McVannel, Sisters Ella Eliza, Emma Bursey, Alice Delaney, Charlotte Snow, Peggy Morey, Blanche Fitzgerald, Stella Fitzgerald, Agnes Banks, Tena Vivian, Bernice Fitzgerald. Brothers Joe, Benji, Billy, Tommy, Dodie, Clifford, Robert, Brother in Laws Bill Delaney, Lenny Bursey, Jack McCarthy, Clyde Banks, Jim Morey, Norm Snow, Scott Vivian. Niece Jane Fitzgerald, Nephew Brian Morey, Nephew in law Raymond Pittman. 

Mary was 1 of 21 she had 7 brothers and 13 sisters and 1 step brother, she was raised in Dingwall until the family decided to move to Newfoundland in about 1956. Where she lived until she moved to Petawawa ON in the early 70’s and found herself a job sailing the Great Lakes on many different cargo ships and she made it her career and joined the Seafarers International Union, she work for many different companies during her career but forced to retire in 2008 as Chef Cook of The M.V John B. Aird of Algoma Central Marine, at the age of 57 after an accident that her injuries were to severe for her to return to work. In the year of 2018 she decided to move to Vancouver Island in a Town called Ladysmith to be with her Daughter TerryLynn and Son in Law Anthony and their children, as she then lived with a active houseful of crazy teenagers, that kept her busy, until they all started to get older and the house got quieter, and her days were getting longer. In 2022 she decided to one day to go the church that TerryLynn and Anthony attended and thats when her life change forever. She never experienced a welcoming like she did that first day, and the love everyone shared it lasted right up until her last day she attended and it’s still continuing to this day. Pastor Wayne Nelson and congregation of Eagle Mountain Church Nanaimo and the Christian Community around her, had the greatest impact on not only on her life but all our lives. The support from everyone from Vancouver Island to right straight across this nation has not gone unrecognized, every bit of it is helping with the healing of her family.  

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. A date will be announced once it’s confirmed