It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Fredericton businesswoman Terry Gayle Fitzgerald (Monahan). It was a terrible shock to her family, friends and colleagues. Her passing leaves a gaping hole where a fun-loving woman of generous spirit used to be. That spirit remains, however, and what a spirit it is.
Terry loved life. She also loved her family, the very heart of which, for her, was her son Mathew. She also loved cooking, music, good wine and laughing with friends — especially when these things took place simultaneously at her Yoho Lake cottage. An early riser, she loved stepping out onto the cottage’s front deck hours before sunup to look at the stars.
She also rose early to work, and she built Docu-Tek, her little company on Dundonald Street, into a successful search house and corporate paralegal provider.
Every year, Terry and her "travel buds" would find someplace exotic to visit. Whether it was the Maine Coast, Havana, Spain or Barbados, she travelled as she lived, in the moment, with that "Oh-So-Terry," jump-in-with-both-feet attitude. And if those feet happened to be near a white, sandy beach, so much the better. She loved the ocean breeze.
Terry’s love affair with the sea started when she spent long stretches of her childhood summers on Parlee Beach in Shediac. With her mother, Mardie, and older sister Pam, she shared a cottage with friends, rising early each morning, rain or shine, excited to get outside and discover new things.
In addition to the many friends who loved her, Terry will be profoundly missed by her son, Mathew Fitzgerald of Fredericton; his partner, Kate Stewart; Mathew’s father, Richard "Dick" Fitzgerald of Fredericton; her brother Peter (Wendy) of Midland, ON; sisters Pamela Monahan, of McAdam; Susan Thomas of Yoho, and Kim Howe of Fredericton; her stepfather, Ian Thomas of Yoho; nieces and nephews Tami MacPherson, Mackenzie and Alex Thomas, and Christopher Pratt, as well as her aunt, Glenna Gardiner and family of Woodstock.
Terry was predeceased by her mother Margaret "Mardie" Joyce Thomas; her father Hayden Monahan; an infant sister Katherine, and a nephew, Christopher MacPherson.
A gathering to celebrate Terry’s rich and full life will be held Saturday afternoon, November 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Delta Hotel’s Victoria Room. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated.
Terry's funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Bishop's Funeral Home (458-1885)