Elizabeth Favre Fitzgerald 1870-1965

FAHERTY, ANDERSON, GUSTAT, WELCH, MORRIS, CLANTON, LAIRD, GENTEMAN

Posted By: M.J. Fitzgerald (email)
Date: 3/21/2005 at 19:59:01

Obituary in Allamakee Journal:
The Life Story of Mrs. John FItzgerald

With the passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Fitzgerald on May 4, Lansing loses one of its oldest and best loved citizens. Mrs. Fitzgerald - "Grandma" to the town - lived in Lansing for almost half of her 94 years. Three generations paid tribute to her at the funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Church where she had worshiped for almost half a century.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Victor Hintgen officiated at the Mass and at the graveside ceremony in Gethsemane Cemetery where she was buried beside her late husband John T. Fitzgerald and his sister, Mary.

Pall bearers were Cyril Murphy, Thomas Kerndt, James Powers, Dennis O'Malley, Joseph Dunlevy, and Norbert Spinner. Rosary Society Honorary Pall bearers were Mrs. W.E. Albert, Mrs. Dennis O'Malley, Mrs. Leo Krieger, Mrs. Harold Wellendorf, Mrs. Philip Rethwisch, Mrs. Frank Reiser and Miss Vernie Fest.

Family members present were Mrs. Fitzgerald, five daughters, Sister M. Willhelmia of Syracuse, NY; Mrs. Robert Faherty of Paris, France; Mrs. George Anderson of Lansing; Mrs. Joseph L. Gustat of Streator, Ill; and Mrs John Welch of Muskegon, MI; sons-in-law, George Anderson, Joseph L. Gustat and John Welch; grandsons, John Anderson of Fargo, ND, and Frederic Gustat, grandaughters Gail Anderson Morris, and Mary, Susan and Kathy Anderson. Gail and John Morris, whose wedding last September was a happy event for Grandma Fitzgerald, came from their home in Iowa City.

The senior class of St. Geroge's High School, of which Mary Anderson is a members, attended the service as a group.

Out-of-town relatives including a sister and four brothers, were Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Clanton, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Favre, Louis and Ernest Favre, and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Laird, all of Prarie du Chien, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. Peter Favre, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Genteman of Tomah, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Gantenbein came from Green Bay, Wis.

Mrs. Fitzgerald was born Elizabeth Favre on September 9, 1870 in Prairie du Chien, of Canadian French and French Swiss ancestry, and knew as a child the picturesque life of the old fur trading post when it was predominately French. As a young woman she made her home in Washington, DC, but returned to Prairie du Chien for her marriage in 1898. In 1900 she and her husband moved to a farm in French Creek Township. In 1919 they retired from farming and moved to Center St. in Lansing where their five daughters were graduated from Immaculate Conception High School.

Until her final brief illness, Mrs. Fitzgerald took a happy interest in the life of the town, in the activities or her twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildern and welcomed her many visitors personally. A child with a bunch of dandelions picked "For Grandma" gave her as much pleasure as a gardening friend with an artfully composed bouquet.