A mass of Christian burial took place Jan. 8 at St. John the Baptist Church for Mary E. Fitzgerald, 86. She died in her sleep on Jan. 1. She was born in Jersey City. Mary graduated from St. Michael’s High School in Jersey City in 1941. She attended Seton Hall University and completed a nursing program at the Jersey City Medical Center. Thereafter, she practiced as a public health nurse in Jersey City. For many years she was a school nurse at St. John the Baptist School. She was a parishioner at St. John the Baptist Church where she was active with the Rosary Society. She was an officer with the United Nurses Organization and was the organization’s treasurer for 13 years. She was chosen as Literacy Tutor of the Year in 1997 by the Literacy Volunteers of America. She was predeceased by her husband of 14 years, John T. Fitzgerald, and by her brother George Irving. She is survived by her sister Anna Mae Ness and many nieces, nephews and cousins, including George Irving, Irene Irving Nolan, Robert Ness, Edward Ness, Mary Ann Ness Brooks, Meg Ness Shelton, Lawrence Ness, Lucian Pinard, Mark Pinard, Carol Pinard, James Ryan, Robert Ryan, Kathleen Ryan Harper, Charles Robertson, Helenanne Lasher, Catherine Robertson, Donald Robertson, Tracy Robertson and Robert O’Rourke. Services arranged by the McLaughlin Funeral Home, Jersey City.