Barbara Ann Fitzgerald 5-19-1934 - 10-30-2022 entered eternal rest with her family at her side at her home in Ojai, California. She was 88
She moved to the Ojai Valley as a young girl, attended Nordhoff High School where she met Ronnie, she lettered in Basketball there. She graduated in 1952. They married in 1955 in Las Vegas, Nevada
She is survived by her children Michael Fitzgerald (Corinne) Rhonda Harris (Dwayne), Grandchildren Twyla Marcrum (Chris), Dennise Jones (Craig), Timothy Fitzgerald (Jackie), Camille Powell (Justin), Bryan Fitzgerald (Bianca), Tyler Harris (Alessandro) Megan Jain (Varun) 14 Great Grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by the love of her life Rolland Fitzgerald, her daughter Fredaline Vandefraft (Doug), Parents Joseph and Evelyn Wingate, brothers Fayette, Wayne and Joseph Wingate. Numerous Nephews and nieces.
Barbara was a devout catholic, she was a member of St Thomas Aquinas most of her life. No matter where in the world she traveled, she would find out where she would go to Mass first.
Barbara lived a very adventurous life, We would really need a full page in the paper to list it all. She was Ronnies right hand girl. She was quite the fisherwoman and swore if you spit on your bait you would catch the big fish. She was usually in the captains chair getting the guys "On the fish" They fished the Channel Islands, Idaho, Canada and Ketchikan, Alaska mostly. She would be on most of the hunting trips too, making sure the guys were well cared for.
In her early days, they rode motorcycles, went water skiing, camping with friends and family. She loved the outdoors. She loved to crochet, her doilies and blankets were complete perfection. She was a great cook. Many of her recipes have already been passed down to the grandchildren and are used often. Her book keeping skills were impeccable, She did the books for all their business entities. In her youth she worked for Austin Pierpont, she would tell us that she learned her bookkeeping skills from him.
She loved to Bowl, she and Fredaline went to Niagra Falls for a bowling tournament. She traveled to Rome with Rhonda and was very happy to have a Rosary blessed by the Pope.
She learned to fly, they would fly to Sacramento often where they raised cattle, She had a pet African Lion that she would take to work with her, The kids never knew what pet would come home next, Albino Peacocks or an Orphan Pig. She loved going to the rodeo in Las Vegas, she was quite lucky at the slot machines, we would find her at her favorite machine at 4:00 a.m still winning. She loved watching the NBA, the Warriors were her favorite, Steph Curry her favorite player. Her life was like a book of fiction. Her stories seemed unreal too many. She really had quite an amazing life in those 88 years. She will be truly missed by her family.
Our family would like to give a special thanks to her hospice team of nurses and caregivers. They cared for her as if they were caring for their own mother. Raqual, Tanya, Blanca, Shelly, Chrystal, Irma, Samantha, Taylor, Kristine, Zuli, and Joleen.
Family and friends are invited to visiting hours to be held on Monday evening November 7, 2022 from 5 to 8pm in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street Ventura, where a Most Holy Rosary will be recited at 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday morning November 8, 2022 in St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church, St. Thomas Road Ojai. Interment will be at 2pm in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.
We encourage you to view our slide show and share memories:
https://vimeo.com/767641599/70b9356257