Rita Stock Fitzpatrick's Obituary
Rita Agnes Stock Fitzpatrick passed away peacefully at the age of 97 in Covington, Louisiana on October 31, 2016.
Rita was born on April 29, 1919 in New Orleans, the daughter of George and Henrietta Graf Stock and was the loving wife of Stanley Fitzpatrick for 49 years, until his death in 1990.
Rita graduated from Ursuline Academy in 1936 and from Ursuline College in 1940. She received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Ursuline in 1996. She embodied the Ursuline motto of “Serviam” by striving daily to help others and always doing so with a smile. She taught everyone around her what it means to be a Christian leader with high moral values and selfless dedication to others.
Rita first taught at St. James Major School, and then at St. Raphael School for 25 years where she received the “Exemplary Teacher” award.
She was selected as the “Outstanding Senior Citizen” of St. Peter Parish in Covington, was awarded the “Order of St. Louis” by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and was a member of “Companions of Pauline”, the lay apostolate of the Sisters of Christian Charity.
She organized the Ursuline Alumnae on the North Shore as well as the “Naim Ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans - Family Life Apostolate” group for widows and widowers in St. Peter Parish where she was a Eucharistic Minister and served as secretary of the Altar Society.
She served as president of Naim and was vice-president of St. Margaret’s Daughters Home in New Orleans for 15 years.
She was a 25 year volunteer at St. Tammany Hospital and also volunteered at Highland Park hospital. She was a “Shut-In” volunteer for St. Peter Parish, a member of the Covington Garden Club where she was chairman of the Arbor Committee, a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow.
She loved to entertain family and friends who always requested her famous brownies. No holiday celebration was complete without her oyster dressing.
Rita enjoyed her “Playmakers” group and her weekly card games with Natalie, Josie, Carmel, Roy and Anne. But nothing took precedence over her weekly prayer meeting with Dee, Joe, Rosalie and Jim.
She enjoyed travelling, gardening and being with her friends at Christwood, especially Peggy.
She was the loving mother of Karen Marie Fitzpatrick who predeceased her, and is survived by Mary Fitzpatrick Pollard and husband Miles, Michael Kevin Fitzpatrick and Stephanie Anne Freyman, and Brian Christopher Fitzpatrick and wife Carolyn. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, Stock Sacco, Mark Sacco and wife Anne, Scherrer Sacco Stevenson and husband Brian, Katy Fitzpatrick Jannazzo and husband Eric Jannazzo, Elizabeth Scott Fitzpatrick, W. Steele Pollard and wife Lauren, Mary Kathryn, Sarah and Christopher Fitzpatrick and 5 great-grandchildren, Sophie Sacco, Evelyn and Julian Jannazzo, Alexandra and Eliza Pollard. She was a loving step-grandmother to Bo Pollard Parker and husband Jeff, Paige Pollard Hayes and husband Tripp, and O. Miles Pollard III (Tee) and wife Leigh. She was also a step great-grandmother to 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her lifelong friend Ella Mae Lefort Anthony.
She was a thoughtful, patient, loving and reverent woman.
Special thanks to Emma Casnave and Mary Sylve, her long time friends of 25 years and to her loving caretakers Natoya Casnave, Natalie Castille and Nichole Casnave who made Rita’s long life full, and filled with joy, prayer, song and dance.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at St. Peter Church, 125 E. 19th Ave., Covington, Louisiana on Friday, November 4, 2016 at Noon with visitation from 10:00am until mass.
Interment at St. Joseph Abbey, St. Benedict Cemetery will immediately follow mass.
Memorial donations may be sent to St. Peter Catholic Church, Covington, 125 E. 19th Ave., Covington, Louisiana 70433 or to Ursuline Academy, 2635 State St., New Orleans, LA 70115.
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