Juanita M. Fitzgerald

1924 - 2015

Juanita M. Fitzgerald, 91, died on February 22, 2015. She was born on February 2, 1924 in Creston, Iowa to Carl and Olive DeFord. She received all her schooling in Iowa. In her early years she was a school teacher and rode her horse to teach in a one room school house where she taught all 8 grades. She eventually moved to Los Gatos, CA and taught at the Montezuma Mountain School for Boys in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Later on she went to work as a Civil Servant for the Army at Ft. Mason in San Francisco, CA. While there, she met a sailor from Dallas, TX on a blind date through friends from her church. Kermit E. Fitzgerald and Juanita married in February of 1946. Their first child, Danny, was born with Down's Syndrome. For a short time she taught special education students in San Leandro, CA where Danny went to school. They had 2 other children, Greg and Cindy. Kermit was a manger for Safeway which transferred their family to Chico in 1954. He opened the first super store on Mangrove Ave. They were instrumental in the founding of the Chico's Work Training Center and organized the first turkey dinner, an annual fund raising event for many years. She moved often due to Kermit's work but they both knew they would return to Chico someday. In 1982 they moved back to their beloved Chico. She worked for Enloe Hospital for 7 years prior to her retirement. Juanita was active in many community organizations. Over the years she was a member of the Chico Women's Club. She spent many hours fund raising for the now Caper Acres. She was PTA president for both John Mc Manus and Jay E. Partridge schools. In 1997 she was the recipient of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority's Community Woman of the Year Award. Juanita and Kermit spent many years as campground hosts at Manzanita Lake, Lassen Park. They also spent 4 years in several Oregon State Parks as hosts. She had been predeceased by her husband in 1999 and her son Danny in 2013. Juanita leaves behind her son, Greg Fitzgerald of Vacaville and her daughter, Cindy Lassonde of Pleasanton, and 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She has one brother Lyle DeFord in Perry, Iowa. Juanita never knew a stranger, so she leaves many close friends. Her church friends became her family. She moved last year to Dixon to be closer to her children. She was an active member of Grace Brethren Church and leaves a part of her heart at Butte Bible. Juanita is now with her loved ones in heaven with our Lord. Her celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 1:00PM at Butte Bible Fellowship 2255 Pillsbury Road Chico, CA.