Gretchen Alicia Fitzpatrick (Junghans)

It is with deep sadness, that we announce the passing of Gretchen Alicia (Junghans) Fitzpatrick, 57, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, on November 13, 2025. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt and friend, and is terribly missed.
Gretchen was born in Hartford, Connecticut and grew up in Ellington, Connecticut. She graduated from Ellington High School in 1986, and was an active member of the Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, where she trained to be an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). She went on to attend Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts, following in her mother's footsteps by pursuing a career as a Registered Nurse. She had a successful career in New York City, working at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care unit, and also for the Regional Organ Transplant Services where she saved lives managing organs and donors, sometimes in very traumatic situations. She later continued her medical career in Massachusetts where she married and settled. She was very spiritual, and had a strong interest in the healing arts, and energy work, which led her to found her own local healing practice. She also was an active volunteer with the United Way. Gretchen was very creative and enjoyed painting and writing as well as gardening. Her love for nature, and animals regularly brought her to the beach or the local forest trails where she enjoyed walking her dog. Her favourite place was Nantucket Island, where she spent summers with her family growing up. Two words that would describe Gretchen, throughout her life, in all that she did, are determination and tenacity. Her strong drive and perseverance brought her success, and helped her overcome many challenges, both personal and professional.
She is survived by her children Kilian Fitzpatrick, of Woburn, Massachusetts, Tegan Fitzpatrick of Denver, Colorado, and Gwyneth Fitzpatrick of Gloucester, Massachusetts, her former husband Kevin Fitzpatrick of Gloucester, Massachusetts, her parents, Alicia and Edward Junghans of Ellington, Connecticut, her siblings, Heidi Junghans, of Germany and brother Erik Junghans (wife Amanda) of Sandwich, Massachusetts, and their children, as well as her dog Nia.
We are deeply grateful to her many friends who supported her. Though she is gone from our sight, she will never be gone from our hearts. The family held a private "celebration of life" service in December.