Obituary: Deborah Fitzsimmons, 85; Longtime Wallingford Teacher

WALLINGFORD, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) Deborah Bradley Fitzsimmons, 85, longtime resident of Wallingford, the loving wife of 55 years to the late Richard F. "Fitz" Fitzsimmons, passed away unexpectedly with her loving family at her side October 20, 2021.

Deb was born in New Haven, Connecticut on December 11, 1935, the daughter of the late Robert and Deborah (Malone) Bradley.

Deb and Fitz met at Southern Connecticut State University (formerly New Haven State Teachers College) and were married during their senior year.

She received her Bachelor’s Degree at Southern Connecticut State University and furthered her education earning her master’s degree from St. Joseph College in Hartford.

She had a 27-year teaching career for the Wallingford Board of Education as an elementary school teacher at Parker Farms Elementary School and Yalesville Elementary School (currently Mary G. Fritz Elementary School) retiring in 1994.

She devoted her career to teaching hundreds of first and second grade students in the Wallingford School System sharing her passion for reading.

Deb enjoyed traveling with Fitz to many destinations including Aruba, Ireland, England, Italy, Las Vegas, Hawaii, but especially loved cruising, summers at the Cape, and winters in Florida with their great friends, John and Ann Riccitelli and the Wallingford crew including John and Katheryn Hackett, Jim and Carol Whalen and many others.

Deb was devoted to her family and enjoyed spending time attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, from field hockey to ice hockey. Her children were her greatest gift and she spent quality time with them creating experiences that will last a lifetime. Deb was their biggest supporter and loved them fiercely.

She was an active member of local organizations including the Building Committee for the Wallingford Senior Center, Wallingford Democratic Town Committee, Board Member of Wallingford Municipal Federal Credit Union, Wallingford Garden Club, Ladies Guild of Our Lady of Fatima Church, and she enjoyed working on Election Day.

Deb enjoyed many leisurely hobbies including crafting, crocheting, reading, and she enjoyed listening to Frank Sinatra and dancing with Fitz back in the day at local dances. Deb was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and a passionate fan for "the girls" of the UCONN Women's Basketball team,
Deb was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, affectionately known as Nana.

She was predeceased by her late husband Richard (Fitz). She is survived by her daughter, Debra Fitzsimons Sitter and her husband, Steven T. of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; her son James C. Fitzsimmons and his wife, Megan B. of Wallingford; her son, Richard Fitzsimmons and family of Cape Cod; her four grandchildren, Caitlin Sitter Godina (Carlos), Jamie A. Sitter, Colin A. Fitzsimmons and Sean A. Fitzsimmons; two great grandchildren, Sophia and Ryland (Godina); and her brother, Robert Bradley (Dianne); her sister Susan Nobles (James); and many nieces and nephews.

Her family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St. Ext., Monday, Oct. 25th, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday October 26, 2021 at 10:30 am at Church of the Resurrection, 150 Pond Hill Road in Wallingford. Interment will follow in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory can be made to the Wallingford Public Library (wallingford.lioninc.org) to support her lifelong passion for reading or gifts in her memory may be sent to The Sisters’ Project (thesistersproject.org).