Mary Alice Fitzgibbons

Mary Alice Fitzgibbons of Lynchburg, VA, died on March 20, 2024, at Westminster-Canterbury at the age of 103. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years, John David (“Dave”) Fitzgibbons, her parents, Charles O’Donnell and Emily Winter O’Donnell of Syracuse, NY, her brothers, Rev. Earnest O’Donnell, O.F.M. of Syracuse, NY, and James O’Donnell of Eagle Pass, TX, her nephews, Joseph Fitzgibbon (Sally) and Christopher Fitzgibbon of Los Alamos, NM, and niece, Scotty Fitzgibbon of Las Cruces, NM. 

Mary Alice was born on October 13, 1920, in Syracuse, NY. She graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with a degree in home economics. She worked as a home economics teacher for a number of years.   She and her husband lived in Los Alamos, NM, Norman, OK, Raleigh, NC, Akron, OH, and Oak Ridge, TN, before moving to Lynchburg in 1955.  The Fitzgibbons were one of the first families sent to the area by the Babcock and Wilcox nuclear industries.  Dave served there as a nuclear engineer.

Mary Alice was a creative person with a designer’s eye who made countless quilts, sweaters, and wall hangings, as well as attractive clothing for herself and her family.  She enjoyed entertaining, playing bridge with friends, and participating in study and discussion groups at her church.  She was an early member of the League of Women Voters, and she helped start the Patches and Pieces Quilt Club. Staying connected to her widespread family members on both sides of the family was very important to her as well. In later years, she followed current events in depth, particularly national politics. Mary Alice was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. In her later years, she enjoyed participating in the monthly Catholic masses and dinners at Westminster-Canterbury where she lived for 25 years.

Mary Alice is survived by her daughter, Patricia Anne Fitzgibbons of Lynchburg, as well as her sisters-in-law, Rosa O’Donnell of San Antonio, TX, and Marifrancis F. Hardison, of Bethesda, MD, her eight nieces: Emilie O. Ward (Tony) of Missoula, MT, Charity H. Moschopolous of Athens, Greece, Sarah H. O’Connor (Tom) of Harrisonburg, VA, Laura H. Willumsun (Dan) of Chevy Chase, MD, Agnes Hardison (Paul) of Deerfield, IL, Mary F. Laub (Rick) of San Clemente, CA, Katherine Fitzgibbon of Green Valley, AZ, and Teresa Fitzgibbon  (Jack) of Albuquerque, NM, plus her four nephews: Charles O’Donnell (Kristin) of Helotes, TX, Osborne Hardison (Hope) of Palo Alto, CA, Matthew Hardison (Beth) of Vienna, VA, James Fitzgibbon (Eva) of Rio Rancho, NM, and each of their families.   

Her family wishes to express gratitude to the many kind staff members at Westminster-Canterbury who befriended and assisted her through the years, particularly the staff of Drinkard Health Center’s Piedmont Floor.  

In lieu of flowers, it is Mary Alice’s request that memorial contributions be sent to the Scholarship Fund at Westminster-Canterbury (501, V. E. S. Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503), Food for the Poor (6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073), or to Holy Cross Church (710 Clay Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504).

A memorial mass will be celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.