Dr. Maureen FitzGerald Sharples, a resident of Dartmouth, beloved wife of Dr. Robert Sharples, passed into eternal life surrounded by her loving family on September 4, 2011 following a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer. She was the daughter of the late Martha and David FitzGerald of Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island. Maureen is survived by her husband, her brother Michael and sister-in-law Marylou FitzGerald of Middletown RI, her sister Nuala and brother-in-law Stephen Duffy of Columbia, Maryland, her sister Martha Jensen of McLean, Virginia, and several nieces and nephews.
Maureen was a graduate of Bryant College, received her Masters Degree from Bridgewater State College and her Doctor of Education Degree from Nova University. A respected and dedicated educator, she was a teacher at Rogers High School in Newport RI before becoming an administrator at Bridgewater State College for 20 years. She ended her career in education as Director of the Academic Learning Center at the Newport Naval Base, a tutorial program for aspiring Naval Academy cadets.
A very giving and loving person, Maureen was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Dartmouth. She was an active member of Hazard’s Beach in Newport and past member of the Redwood Library. She had a great passion for her nieces and nephews, her faith and church, and for gardening and flowers.
Her Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Mary’s Church in Dartmouth on Saturday, September 10th at 10:00 AM. Visiting hours are omitted. Private burial will be in St. Columba's Cemetery, Middletown, RI. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Community Nurse and Hospice Care, P.O. Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719 or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.