Frederic FitzSimmons

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Frederic FitzSimmons

September 6, 1927 - May 2, 2016

FRANKLIN - Frederic J FitzSimmons of Franklin, Vermont passed away peacefully on
May 2, 2016 with his family at his side. 

He was born in Dorchester, MA on September 6, 1927. He was the son of Julia Coveney FitzSimmons and Edward Joseph FitzSimmons. He is predeceased by his sisters Marie McFadden, and Joan Stinson, his brothers Richard Seton FitzSimmons, Paul FitzSimmons, and
his granddaughter Julia Eldora FitzSimmons. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Audrey Vivian FitzSimmons of Franklin VT, his sister Celestine Gookin of Norton, Massachusetts and his nine children. Susan and Dan Burns of Enosburg, VT Carol and Richard Fontina of Mars Hill, Maine, Michael and Jane FitzSimmons of Brockton, MA, Ann and William Tucker of Middleboro, MA, James FitzSimmons and his partner Lisa Wong of West Bridgewater, MA, Joseph and Jennifer FitzSimmons of Swanton, VT, Julia FitzSimmons Chartier of Northampton, MA, Janet and Paul Wells of Enosburg, VT, and Mary FitzSimmons and her friend Rick Bence of Swansea, MA. He was also was the proud Grandpa of 37 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins that he has faithfully kept in touch with.

He entered the Marines at the age of 16 and served his country in World War Two in the occupation of Japan in Chi Chi Jima. He was in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment of the USMC. He was honorably discharged on August 21, 1946.

Daddy married Audrey Baker on July 7, 1950 and they have enjoyed 65 years together. They spent their early years raising their family in Brockton, MA and retired to Franklin, VT in 1990.

He was a member of Local #276 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters of Brockton, MA where he was a Steamfitter for his working years. He was also a member of Local #51 of Providence RI. 

Daddy’s character can only be described as strong, brutally honest, lover of family and his country, polite at all times but, at the same time able to be forthright and stand up for any injustice.
He loved his country and proudly flew the US flag outside his home on the flag pole he
made himself out of polished steel.

Family always came first to Daddy. He and Mama hosted Sunday dinner for anyone who could come, through all the years of their married life. That’s a lot of roast beef dinners! It was always the safest and happiest gathering place for all of us.

Daddy was an avid reader, lover of the Boston Herald newspaper, politics, the New England Patriots and FOX news. He enjoyed gardening, and planting trees. The trees surrounding his Franklin home were planted as saplings in the early 1990’s and he had the privilege of seeing them mature to lofty heights. He was a staunch Republican and a member of the NRA and the Heritage Foundation. 

He and his wife enjoyed many trips with his fellow war Veterans travelling to Gettysburg, PA., and Washington DC, spending time together and honoring their fallen comrades.
This was very important to him. 

For the last weeks of his life as he adjusted to the reality of his diagnosis and the time he had left, he demonstrated tremendous humility, strength and grace. Letting his nine children and extended family care for him. He was never without a smile for each of us.
He continued to be his witty and playful self, surprising us with his keen sense of all that was going on.
So much so that we were able to laugh and cry with him.
We even enjoyed writing down all the funny things he said which we will fondly refer to as “Fredisms!”

Most importantly, we would like to share that after Daddy received a visit from a priest at UVM Medical Center, he was able to say that he was in a “state of grace with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and that it felt like Christmas”. He was at peace with God, his face visibly displaying serenity and happiness.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 11:00 AM the East Franklin Union Church, 4610 Lake Road/Vermont Route 120, East Franklin with Rev. Jason McConnell officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow in the East Franklin Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be held Friday from 5-8 PM at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls. 

For those who wish, contributions in Fred’s memory may be made to the Franklin County Home Health Agency – Hospice Program, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478.

God's Garden

God looked around his garden
And found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,
He knew that you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered “Peace be thine.”

It broke our hearts to lose you
But you did not go alone…
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

 Author: unknown

Paul Michael FitzSimmons

Paul Michael Fitzsimmons, writer, passed away on Sunday July 11, 2010 at the Bath VA, where he received excellent care in his last year of life.

Paul was born in Boston on Tuesday June 12, 1923. He was the son of Edward and Julia (Coveney) Fitzsimmons and brother of Marie McFadden, Fred (Audrey) Fitzsimmons, Celestine Gookin, Joan Stinson (deceased) and Richard Fitzsimmons (deceased). Paul was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Merchant Marine in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean as second mate and navigator on the U.S. Rum River. He was licensed to sail any ship, any tonnage, on any ocean. One of his most stirring memories was meeting up with his brother Freddie in the midst of the war on the island of Guam, where Freddie was serving with the United States Marine Corps. Their mother, Julia, wept with joy to receive word that her sons had such a reunion in the midst of such times. Paul was a passionate defender of the Constitution and a devoted patriot of the principles of democracy. Until his dying day, he maintained an impassioned plea to the nation to peacefully rebel against the corporate takeover of our liberties. His Peoples Manifesto was last published in the Watkins Review in 2008.

Paul is the father of Robert (Mindy) Fitzsimmons, John Fitzsimmons (deceased), Paula Fitzsimmons (Philip Davis), Marie Fitzsimmons (Kirk Peters), and Daniel Fitzsimmons (Dorothy Elizabeth). He is the grandfather of Dr. Coveney Fitzsimmons (Gabriel Gomez), Liam Fitzsimmons, Jores Peters, Jared Peters, Sophie Fitzsimmons Peters, Hilary Davis, Colin Davis, Connor Fitzsimmons, Rowan Elizabeth, and William Fitzsimmons. He is the great grandfather of Zade Ixchel.

Paul began his writing career in New York City, where his early literary successes included Family of Five (1956), End of the Road (1957), By the Light of the Moon (1957) Green Goods and Gold (1959), A Ring is a Precious Thing (1957), The Oracle Machine and Mr. Kessler (1957) and The Way of a Dog (1957). Paul was commissioned by Beacon Press to write the Howard Hughes story and to bring his family to Hollywood to write screenplays. Instead, the family moved to Burdett to an old farmhouse with 100 acres and began their lives in upstate New York.

During that time, Paul authored Confessions of a Year Round Hunter for True Magazine, scripts for plays, eloquent poetry, and impassioned political articles. He acted in local theatre with the Burdett Players, worked to bring about the Citizens Party, demonstrated against the closing of Sampson State Hospital, and wrote prolifically. After the Flood of '72, Paul wrote a sweeping ode of the Chemung River Flood. His Christmas Dream, written for his daughter Paula, was loved by Katharine Hepburn, who was touched by the magic of Pauls writing. Paul resided for many years in Front Royal, Virginia, where he wrote guest editorials for The Washington Post and The Riverton Press. In 1982, at age 59, Paul fulfilled a lifetime dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, 2,175 miles from Springer, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. His story was published in the Appalachian Hiker. In 2000, Paul made a trip to Scotland to see his beloved friend and fellow AT hiker, war correspondent Jack Willis. The two writers had a special bond borne from their restless natures and adventurous souls.

Paul recently celebrated his 87th birthday at the music recital of his grandson Colin, enjoyed a beer at the Stone Cat Caf, and ate homemade cake prepared by his son-in-law Kirk. More than anything, Paul was most proud of his children and expressed enormous gratitude to their mother. Paul died having held each of his four children on the last day of his life. As Paul lived by the pen, your remembrances may be sent to C/O Fitzsimmons Family, 5550 Peach Orchard Point, Hector, New York 14841. Perhaps you would like to buy a lottery ticket, make a contribution to the Watkins Glen Library to offset his many late charges, or hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail in his memory. Or simply start a peaceful revolution. As Paul would say: "Good Deal." The family will receive friends at the Stone Cat Caf on Saturday, July 17th from 2-4 p.m.