Maribeth Fitzgerald was born on Sept. 11, 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Dr. Paul and Bea Walsh. She passed away after a long illness at home in Centralia on April 30, 2024.
Maribeth graduated from Marian High School and earned her nursing degree from Saint Joseph’s School of Nursing in Omaha.
She came to Centralia in 1975 with her husband, Dr. Ray Fitzgerald, who co-founded Cascade Family Medical Clinic with Dr. Ken Perko. She taught childbirth classes at Centralia General Hospital and was a past board member and president of Centralia Dollars for Scholars.
First and foremost, she loved being a wife, mother and grandmother. She saw this as her most important job and, as with everything, she put her all into it. She also enjoyed doing stained glass windows and lamps, painting, needlepoint and traveling. An avid reader, Maribeth always had a book on the go, usually historical fiction with a strong female protagonist! She knew the lineage and intrigue of the kings and queens of England and France as well as she knew Pacific Northwest flowers and could always be counted on for anecdotes and facts in all these realms.
Grammie was elegance personified: stylish, witty, charming. She truly enjoyed meeting people and could find a common thread with anyone — whether in the grocery store line or a transatlantic flight. When not spending time with her family or creating her legendary raspberry jam and bread, she delighted in sharing coffee and conversation with her close friends. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ray; daughter, Jane Toulson; and granddaughters, Claire and Bryn; son, Kevin (Karen) Fitzgerald; and grandsons, Michael and Conor; and son, Sean Fitzgerald; brothers Mike and Pat; and sister, Jane. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Julie and Kathy.
The funeral Mass will be held at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Centralia on May 16 at 11 a.m. A reception will immediately follow at the Centralia Square Grand Ballroom, located at 202 Centralia College Blvd. in Centralia.
In lieu of flowers, donations or memorials may be made to Centralia Dollars for Scholars or Saint Joseph’s Catholic School.
