Roselyn Fitzgerald

Biography

Roselyn Delois Fitzgerald of Danbury died Sunday, September 24, 2006 at the Cambridge Hospital. She was 75 years old.

Roselyn was born on May 5, 1931, in a farm house northeast of Indianola to Paul A. and Mary Alice (Walton) Helm. She completed her elementary education in rural schools and high school in Indianola, graduating in 1948. She left three weeks later to attend college at St. Mary's in Leavenworth, Kansas for her nurses training prerequisites. From there she finished nurses training at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas graduating in 1951.

She returned to Nebraska and worked at St. Catherine's Hospital in McCook. From there she traveled to Portland, Oregon to join a classmate of nurses training. She worked in Pediatrics and later took a job as camp nurse at Sandy, Oregon.

She sang briefly with the Portland Symphonic Choir before meeting and marrying Gary E. Fitzgerald of The Dalles, Oregon on August 10, 1955. Their two daughters, Tina Marie and Theresa Ann were born in Portland. They moved to the coastal town of Reedsport, Oregon and became parents of a son, Martin (Marty) Joseph. She lost her husband, Gary on February 26, 1965.

She and her children moved back to Nebraska to be near her parent's farm south of Indianola. She went to work in Cambridge in the fall of 1965. She married Boyd Burdette Crocker on June 22, 1966. He suffered a fatal heart attack in October of that year. She became employed as a school nurse for Dundy, Hitchcock and Chase counties. She ultimately moved to Larned, Kansas and worked the last 16 years of her nursing career at Larned State Mental Hospital.

Roselyn was a member of the National Nurses Association for the 46 years she spent as a nurse. She maintained nurses' licenses in Nebraska, Oregon, and Kansas. She was a life-time member of American Legion Auxiliary and NAMI. She loved music, the theater, dance, her country and God. She was a life-time crusader for the sick, mentally ill, handicapped and the oppressed.

Proceeding her in death were her parents; her husbands, Gary Fitzgerald and Boyd Crocker her grandparents; and one aunt.

Survivors include her son, Martin J. Fitzgerald of Larned, Kansas; two daughters, Tina Schultz and husband, Dave, of Danbury, Theresa Fitzgerald of Everett, WA; sister, Julia Hoskins and husband, Donald of Jackson, OR; grandson, Gary Schultz and wife, Kellie of Danbury; two granddaughters, Hilary Schultz of New York, Jenna Fitzgerald of Everett, WA; great-granddaughter, Lillie Schultz; niece, Angie Killian of Montana; nephew, Mike Hoskins of Illinois; and their families; and numerous friends.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the charity of choice.

Memorial services were Friday, September 29, 2006 at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home. Inurnment took place in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, next to her husband, Gary.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.