Janet V. Fitzpatrick

1937 - 2025

Janet Fitzpatrick, age 88, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on October 8, 2025, at Cottagewood Senior Communities after a brief stay.

Jan was born on February 18, 1937, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Alex and Viola (Debold) Brunner. Her first fourteen years in Milwaukee-surrounded by family, the culture of city life, and especially the Milwaukee Public Library-sparked her lifelong love of books and learning. When her family later moved to a farm near Brownsville, Minnesota, she carried with her a deep appreciation for how strong public institutions can shape lives and strengthen communities, guiding her toward a vocation devoted to public education and the lifelong accessibility of information.

Jan graduated from Winona State Teachers College in 1959 and later earned a Master's in Instructional Media and Technology from Mankato State University, followed by an Educational Specialist degree. She began her career as a page at the Winona Public Library and went on to build a distinguished 32-year career as a teacher and school librarian with the Rochester Public Schools, most notably at Sunset Terrace Elementary. After retiring from the school system, she continued for nine more years as a part-time reference librarian at the Rochester Public Library, concluding a remarkable 44-year career in teaching and library work.

On July 1, 1961, Jan married Richard "Dick" Fitzpatrick at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Brownsville. They recently celebrated 64 years of marriage. Dick was, as Jan said near the end of her life, "everything" to her. Together they shared a warm, creative life in Rochester filled with books, laughter, and animals-including their beloved dog Celia and many cherished cats. From their dining room overlooking the woods, they enjoyed feeding birds-especially pileated woodpeckers-and were entertained nightly by raccoons. Together, Jan and Dick were night owls who cherished the peaceful late hours together.

With their strong belief in the power of education, Jan and Dick established the Janet and Richard Fitzpatrick Scholarship at Winona State University to support future elementary teachers in achieving their dreams.

Jan will be remembered for her intelligence, warmth, and curiosity-for the way she nurtured connections and cared deeply about family, her love of gardens and animals, and how she inspired children especially to open new worlds and possibilities through reading. She had a special gift for guiding library patrons to the answers they were seeking, approaching every question with her characteristic enthusiasm and zeal.

Her role as a supportive, loving aunt and sister was returned in full by all members of her family, and in recent years especially by those nearby in Rochester-her sister Marlene (John) Puent and nephew Tim (Kelly) Puent-who have been devoted in their ongoing service and care, to help Jan and Dick stay in their home.

She is survived by her beloved husband Richard Fitzpatrick; sisters Kathleen (Gordon) Woodard of La Crosse, WI, and Marlene (John) Puent of Fountain, MN; sister-in-law Kathy Hodgkins of Waldorf, MN; and the many nieces and nephews she adored: Laurie Arzaga, Douglas (Lisa) Woodard, Mary (Kevin) Domack, Karen Duncanson, Colleen Puent (Pam Bonzelet), Dan Puent, Tim (Kelly) Puent, Troy (Donna) Hodgkins, Trent (Michelle) Hodgkins, and Roxanne (Scott) Tryba-along with numerous grand- and great-grand-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Viola Brunner; parents-in-law, Alice and Roy Fitzpatrick; brother-in-law, Dave Hodgkins; niece, Susan Woodard; nephew, Scott Woodard; and grand-nephew, Alex Puent.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Brownsville, MN with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service, then the interment at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Brownsville. Arrangements by Schumacher-Kish in La Crescent, MN.

Memorials may be directed to the Janet and Richard Fitzpatrick Scholarship Fund at Winona State University, the Rochester Public Library, or St. Patrick's Catholic Church.