Geraldine “Gerry” Gertrude Gros Fitz-Gerald, 88, passed away in her sleep on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 while hospitalized in Birmingham, Alabama. Gerry was born in New Orleans on Jan. 20, 1935 to parents, Edward Camille Gros and Gertrude Ford Gros. She completed her education in 1952 when she graduated from St. Anthony High School in Baton Rouge. Afterward, she worked at Louisiana State University for a brief period until she married William “Bill” Tobin Fitz-Gerald of Port Allen on Apr. 18, 1953. Together they had five children, Michael Stephen Fitz-Gerald (Mary Jo), Donna Elizabeth McMillan (“Lex”), John Edward Fitz-Gerald (Frances), Laurie Louise Comeaux (James, deceased) and Julie Ann Goodfriend. Gerry also has thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Not long after their marriage, Gerry and Bill and their young family moved to DeQuincy, where Bill worked for the Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific railroads as an engineer, and Gerry worked to raise their children and care for their home. After a career with the railroad Bill died on Aug. 16, 2000. Gerry continued to reside in DeQuincy until shortly after Hurricane Laura hit Southwest Louisiana. Gerry then relocated from DeQuincy to Montgomery, Alabama to reside with her daughter, Julie, where she remained living until her death. While residing in DeQuincy, Gerry was a member of Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church.
Gerry is survived by her sisters, Jaqueline Rachal (Walter) and Kathleen Laurent (Eugene); and brothers, Richard Gros (Cheryl) and James Gros (Mona). Gerry is survived by all of her five children and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Edward C. and Gertrude Gros; paternal grandparents, Amadeo and Philomenia Lasseigne Gros; maternal grandparents, Louis and Adelle Benoit Ford; brother, Edward C. Gros Jr.; father-in-law, John William Fitz-Gerald; mother-in-law, Rachel Williamson Fitz-Gerald; and son-in-law, James Comeaux.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church in DeQuincy on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be at Hixson-Snider Funeral Home on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. until the procession to the church. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery in DeQuincy.
If someone chooses, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Website is: stjude.org/givehope
Services entrusted to Jordan and Amanda Mothershed of Hixson-Snider Funeral Home, 205 E. Harrison St., DeQuincy.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonsnider.com.
(Paid Memorial)
