Sister Clare FitzGerald, O.S.B., 1907-2002

Sister Clare FitzGerald, 95, of the St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at her home.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 – 7 p.m. Monday at the Monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery.

Sister Clare was born April 8, 1907, in Cork, Ireland, the daughter of Maurice and Mary Guiton FitzGerald.  She entered the Benedictine community Jan. 4, 1931.  She made her final profession as a Benedictine Sister July 22, 1935.

Sister Clare had attended the Dominican High School, Galway, Ireland, and St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill.  She graduated from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, with a bachelor of arts degree.

Sister Clare ministered at St. Boniface School, Peoria, Ill.; St. Mary’s School, Wenona, Ill.; St. Mary’s School, Moline; St. Roch’s School, LaSalle, Ill., St. Mary’s Academy and St. Peter & Paul School, both in Nauvoo; and St. Thomas More School, Munster, Ind.

She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Ireland; and cousins in Illinois and Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents and five sisters.