Name: Visitation for The Honorable Mary C. FITZPATRICK
Start: 2025-01-22T16:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-01-22T17:00:00.000Z
Location: St. Brigid of Kildare Parish

FITZPATRICK, The Honorable Mary C. Passed away peacefully, at her lifelong home in South Boston, on January 16, 2025, at age 97. Beloved and devoted daughter of the late John and Cecelia (McAneney) Fitzpatrick, Mary was born in South Boston on November 3. 1927. Following her graduation from Nazareth High School, Mary began what would become a uniquely distinguished career of service to the Probate and Family Court when she entered the Court system in 1945 as a junior clerk in the Suffolk Probate Court. While working full-time in the Registry of Probate and mastering the intricacies of probate practice, Mary attended at night Calvin Coolidge College in Boston and then Portia Law School (now New England School of Law), from which she graduated as Valedictorian of her class in 1953, and thereafter, in 1954, she was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar. In recognition of her skill and knowledge, in 1961, she was promoted to Assistant Register of Probate. In 1972, she was appointed by Governor Francis Sargent as a Judge of the Probate Court, only the second woman so named in the history of the Court. The following year, in 1973, she was appointed First Justice of the Suffolk Probate Court. a position in which she served with distinction for nearly 25 years. In 1991, she was appointed Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court Department, the first woman to be so appointed and the first woman to lead a major Trial Court Department in the history of the Commonwealth. Following her retirement in 1997, she contributed her services for several years as a Special Master at the Suffolk Probate and Family Court in child protection and custody cases, a special concern of hers throughout her career and life. Throughout her career, Mary was known for her diligence in reforming and improving court procedures, training and conditions as they affected litigants, court personnel and Judges and for her unwavering courtesy, attentiveness and fairness to all concerned.

Among the honors Mary received in recognition of her many and varied contributions and accomplishments were an honorary degree from the Ncw England School of Law in 1972, the Distinguished Jurist Award from the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers in 1992, the Family Court Judge Of The Year Award from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 1995, and in 1994 she was named Judge of The Year by the National Child Support Enforcement Agency. In 1995, in recognition of her service, the Justices of the Probate Court established the Chief Mary C. Fitzpatrick Fund through the Flashner Institute to specially fund judicial education programs for children's issues. Mary was a person of deep and abiding faith which she lived actively as a devoted lifelong parishioner of St. Brigid Parish of Kildare in South Boston. As a cherished and supportive member of her large extended family of cousins and dear friends, in her unwavering commitment to a life of public service and in the innumerable acts of charity and kindness which characterized her life.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, John and Cecelia Fitzpatrick; many of her cousins; and her dear friend, Joan M. Ryan. She is survived by her cousins, William Grant of South Boston and Kathleen M. Petrozzelli of Haverhill; her extended family, and Stephen J. Curran, Jr. of Quincy and his extended family.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon on January, 22, 2025 at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish. 845 East Broadway, South Boston, MA. Visiting Hours will be held at the church from 11 AM to noon, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Burial at New Calvary Cemetery. Reception to follow at the Fox and Hound Restaurant, 123 Sea Street, Quincy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary's name to Catholic Charities Notre Dame Education Center, 202 Old Colony Road, South Boston, MA 02127.

Arrangements by Wm. F. Spencer Funeral Service, SOUTH BOSTON.

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Published by Boston Globe from Jan. 18 to Jan. 19, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary FITZPATRICK

6 Entries

Steve Curran

January 21, 2025

My mother, Mary Grant (Curran) and her brother Billy were were orphanrd, and taken in by mary's family at ages 10 and 1 years old. She grew up having Mary as a sister and best friend and were friends until my mother passed. Mary was a true angel on earth And will be dearly missed. Steve (Stevie)

Jennifer Maggiacomo

January 21, 2025

Judge Fitzpatrick was a giant. There are countless women, like myself, whose opportunities exist because she paved the way. I am so grateful for her leadership, mentorship and kindness to me. I will never forget her.

Laurie, Maura & Lisa Morgan (Charlie's daughters)

January 21, 2025

Very sorry to hear of cousin Mary Fitz' death. She was a remarkable woman and a true legend in the family. May she rest in peace.

Judge Spencer Kagan (ret.)

January 19, 2025

I was deeply saddened to hear that Judge Fitzpatrick passed away. I know that I am not speaking for myself when I say that she was a outstanding mentor to myself and fellow judges. She was one of a kind and I will always remember her. RIP in Judge Mary

Jimmy Miller

January 19, 2025

This is a story about a woman who started at the bottom, a daughter of immigrants who smashed every glass ceiling she ever found and erected a staircase behind her for everyone else to climb. It's a "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" story, a testament to a woman's hard work and incredible intellect. It's an incredible story.

And if you ever met Mary "Fitz," it's a story she'd never tell you. The woman you would meet would be kind, gentle, soft spoken, and humble. You would never guess that when was the first female chief justice of any court system in Massachusetts. You might perceive a quiet, gentle intelligence and guess she was maybe a school librarian or maybe the headmaster of a small girl's school. She never bragged or talked about work. You could know her for years and never know there's a courtroom named after her. You'd never know she was one of the greatest legal minds of her generation. You'd never know that she could walk into Anthony's Pier Four at any time of any day and get a private booth (perhaps the only real privilege I ever saw her exercise). You'd never know that she was perhaps the most important child advocate in the entire Commonwealth, or that she spent her days saving children and families through some incredible horrors. There was no ugliness, arrogance, or meanness. She was another one of my "mother Marys," my brother Robert Miller's "Godmother Mary," a warm and loving woman, a wonderful example of Christian love and motherhood, and I miss her very much.

Mary was my cousin, but she was really like an aunt. She never had kids of her own but she always wanted to be supportive and part of our lives. I only knew Mary Fitz, except when some large award ceremony was thrown in the honor of The Honorable Judge Mary C. Fitzpatrick. I'm so inspired by both sides of her life and I'm so grateful for her example and her love.

And that's my part of the rest of the story

Mary Ryan Henry

January 18, 2025

In addition to her cousins, Mary was blessed to have incredible care givers for many years. They were devoted to her to her final breath. There is no amount of gratitude for the loyalty and care these woman provided.

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