Catherine M. Fitzsimmons

Catherine M. Fitzsimmons

AGE: 85 • Toms River

Catherine M. Fitzsimmons, age 85, of Toms River, passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2012, from complications of a stroke she suffered on November 4, 2011. Born and raised in Newark, she moved to Bayville and then to Toms River twenty-five years ago before her retirement. She was employed as a school bus driver for the State of New Jersey, transporting disabled adults to their day programs.

Catherine was not a rich woman monetarily but she was rich in the love she received from her family. For Catherine, it was "Always" about her family. She will be forever missed by her children: Elizabeth Lipshutz and her husband David, Donald Fitzsimmons and his wife Joyce, Susan Smit and her husband Peter and Steven Fitzsimmons. Catherine tirelessly advocated and continuously worried about her son, Steven, who is severely retarded. Her last conversation with family included the question, as it always did, "How is Steven?" Her grandchildren: Dara Lipshutz, Jason Lipshutz and Matthew Smit were fortunate to have "Grandma" always looking out for them and remembering them in her daily prayers.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 21st from 8:00-8:30AM at "The Family Owned" Carmona-Bolen Home For Funerals, 412 Main Street, Toms River, NJ 08753. A Funeral Mass will be held at 9:00AM at St. Joseph RC Church in Toms River. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Toms River. Condolences can be sent to: carmonabolenfh.com