A Memorial Service for Mary E. Fitzgerald will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 27, 2015 at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester with Pastor Vern Christopherson officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at the River Park Chapel Macken Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.

Mrs. Fitzgerald, 97, of Rochester, died Saturday February 21 at Mayo Clinic Hospital St. Marys Campus.

Mary was born March 21, 1917 in Minneapolis, MN to Archie and Eva Maude Wurtzler. She lived in Chatfield, MN from 1917 to 1943. On June 23, 1943 she married John K. Fitzgerald in Los Angeles, CA. The couple lived in Los Angeles, CA from 1943 to 1945. Mary and John moved to Rochester, MN in 1945.

Before her marriage, Mary worked as a teacher in District 98 for four years. She then worked two years in the office of Drs. Woodruff and Schuele in Chatfield. After her marriage, Mary worked for Lockheed Air Craft for two years. She later worked for twelve years in the Rochester Elementary Schools. Mary was also a supervisor at the Family Consultation Center in Rochester for 13 years until her retirement. Mary was active in the Horace Mann PTA where she held every office. She was on the Senior Citizen Board for a number of years and also on the Senior Citizen Memorial Foundation Board serving as Vice President and President. Mary was active in the Zumbro Lutheran Church Sarah Circle, serving as secretary for a number of years. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, the Fairbanks Family of America, the Horace Mann P.T.A. and the Retired Educators (R.A.R.E.)

She enjoyed flower gardening, pets, travel and was an avid reader and history buff. Mary enjoyed writing both prose and poetry. In 1997, her grandson and his wife gathered together what she had written through the years and published a book of the collection. She wrote for pleasure, but a few pieces were published.

Mary's ancestors built the first frame house in 1636. After eight generations had lived in that house, it was put on the Historical Register and still stands today as a museum in Dedham, Massachusetts. When the Heritage House in Rochester was built, it was the home of her great uncle, Timothy Whiting.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, 3 brothers; Herbert, Paul and Larry Wurtzler and 1 sister; Ada Uhl. She is survived by her daughter; Linda (David) Griggs of Rochester and one grandson; Tony (Tracy) Griggs of Duluth, MN and two great grandsons; Logan and Owen Griggs.

Memorials are suggested to the Heritage House Victorian Museum of Rochester located in Central Park P.O. Box 512 Rochester, MN 55903 or Zumbro Lutheran Church.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com