Mr. Thomas Fitzsimmons

Thomas John Fitzsimmons, 88, of Cranford, NJ, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 18, 2020. Thomas was born July 11, 1931 in Avoca, PA to the late Thomas Damian Fitzsimmons and Helen Sheridan Fitzsimmons. As a Radio Maintainer assigned to the 528th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, for the Far East Air Force at Johnson Air Base in Japan, Thomas served his country during the Korean War, from January 1951 to December 1954. After serving in the USAF Thomas began his over 30 year career as a firefighter for the Newark Fire Department. Tom was a member of The Knights of Columbus for over 65 years and always faithful to his church. Thomas was a devoted husband, brother, uncle and friend. His life centered around the family and friends that he loved. To his family, he is the man that created the term "Favorite Uncle". He treated everyone he met as if they were the most important person in the room, making them feel like one of his favorites too. He married the love of his life, Anne, on April 4, 1970. Their 50 years together were a true love story. They spent their time together enjoying their love for travel, and were always excited to see where the road would take them. In addition to his parents, Tom is preceded in death by his brother John "Jack" Fitzsimmons and his sisters, Rosemary Shubick, Eleanor Dobbins & Anne Kunze. He is survived by his wife, Anne Azzolino Fitzsimmons, his sister Joan Mullery and many many nieces, nephews; great nieces and great nephews, who he always affectionately called "the kids". Tom will be missed by his countless friends who, to him, were all family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, 40 Alden Street, Cranford, NJ 07016. Burial will be following Mass at Hollywood Memorial Park, 1500 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ. Visitation will be one hour before Mass at 8:30 at St. Michael's. In lieu of the flowers, memorials in his name may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. Funeral Services are being handled by Gray Funeral Directors, 12 Springfield Ave. Cranford, NJ 07016 --