Margaret M "Peggy" Fitzgerald

Margaret M. (Lord) Fitzgerald, lovingly known to all as Peggy, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2025, at the age of 84 at D'Youville Senior Care in Lowell, where she had been a resident for the past two years after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Peggy's life was one filled with laughter, love, and an unwavering devotion to family and friends. It will be hard to quantify her legacy here.
Born on July 28, 1941, in Arlington, Massachusetts, Peggy was the beloved daughter of Mary "Marie" Lamkins McNeill and Louis Lord and Eugene "Gene" McNeill. She grew up as the second eldest in a large, blended family. To Peggy, Gene was never just a stepfather-he was her dad, her guide, and her constant source of support. From an early age, she naturally stepped into the role of caretaker for her younger half-siblings, who adored her as a second mother.
Peggy's life changed forever in high school when her cousin Hal arranged a blind double date in Arlington, her hometown. Hal hoped to court Peggy's best friend, Jackie, and needed a friend for her-so he enlisted his buddy "Fitzy" John Fitzgerald, who, of course, had a car. That evening introduced Peggy to the love of her life. From that moment, Peggy and Fitzy began a lifelong partnership filled with affection, adventure, and steadfast devotion, spanning more than 60 years of marriage. It was also during those years that Peggy and Jackie forged a true friendship; they raised their families together and shared a bond that lasted until Jackie's passing in 2018.
Peggy and Fitzy began building a beautiful life together. Family was always their greatest joy and source of pride, filled with laughter, love, and partnership. Initially wanting nine boys to form her own baseball team, Peggy and Fitzy stopped at five children-John, Mike, Kathleen, Patti, and Brian-born within seven years. Peggy created an environment filled with love, values, and a belief that family meant everything and anything was possible. She and Fitzy embraced family life to the fullest. They had their struggles, heartache, and pain, but their love surpassed it ALL.
Their houses may have started as fixer-uppers, but Fitzy was always fixing something to make them whole. Peggy's love of shopping bargains and décor helped transform them. Together, they turned those houses into homes-first in Stoneham, Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Tyngsborough, and later Naples, FL. They were always full of activity, laughter, and friends. Wherever she went, she made new friends who became instant family, welcoming ALL into her home. Her door was AWAYS OPEN. Peggy's love for entertaining was legendary-especially her Christmas Eve gatherings, where everyone, near and far, was welcome at any time, even after midnight. Fitzy might have grumbled about the preparations, but once the house filled with music, food, and friends, his heart was as full as hers.
A woman of many talents and tireless dedication, Peggy worked a variety of jobs throughout her life-from waitressing and bookkeeping to bargain hunting (if that is a job, she mastered it)-always balancing her roles as wife and mother with determination and grace. Her décor looked like it came from a magazine, but if she couldn't find it cheap enough, she would sew it. She could make a head of lettuce feed her family for a week, and you would never starve. The cabinets were always full.
Finding her passion in real estate, Peggy worked the "old-school way," with no computers-hands-on, guiding clients from home to home with patience, enthusiasm, and a natural gift for connection. Thriving as an agent for over 20 years, she was over the moon when her daughter Patti decided to join her and take over the reins upon her retirement. Her integrity and charm earned her numerous awards and a loyal clientele who became lifelong friends. Peggy had a remarkable ability to talk to anyone and make them feel at home.
Peggy's joy extended beyond work and family to her many hobbies. She loved to bowl, play cards well into the night, watch her favorite shows like Dancing with the Stars, Wheel of Fortune, and Family Feud, and travel-whether on road trips across the U.S., cruises, camping, Virginia, Hampton, Salisbury, NH, or winters spent in Florida. She and Fitzy were known for their adventures with dear friends, often traveling in large, boisterous groups full of kids and laughter-from epic road trips across the country in the family camper to countless gatherings with lifelong friends-the Whites, Flynns, Burkes, Riccios, Earls, Kenneys, Barbara Wasser, Shirley Cook, and so MANY more-who ALL became INSTANT family. If she met you, you were IN for LIFE. The stories they could tell!
Her pride and joy were always her family, especially her grandchildren-Mike and Bonnie were the first to make it happen, and Peggy was delighted when Sean came home; then Matthew "Matt", Butch, and Jake Fitzgerald, Celia and Drew Ungerson-each one holding a special place in her heart. Peggy delighted in being a grandmother, spoiling her "princess" Celia, and sharing adventures with the boys. All the grandkids were born one family at a time, 8–10 years apart, so she was able to spoil them one set at a time! It worked out great for her-for almost 25 years, there was always a baby grandchild!
Peggy's warmth, humor, generosity, and love of life will forever echo in the hearts of those who knew her. To know Peggy was to feel at home-welcomed with open arms and a seat at her table. Her laughter, her stories, and her unwavering love created a world where everyone belonged. Though her chair may now be empty, her spirit will live on in every family gathering, every shared memory, and every Christmas Eve filled with joy and light. Peggy's legacy is one of LOVE-a bright, enduring flame that will never fade.
Peggy is survived by her devoted husband, who stood by her and visited her daily at D'Youville: John "Fitzy" Fitzgerald of Tyngsborough, MA; her children, Kathleen Fitzgerald of Shirley, MA; Patricia "Patti" (Fitzgerald) Ungerson and her husband Andy Ungerson of Billerica, MA; and Brian Fitzgerald of Tyngsborough, MA. Her sister, Mary "Mae" Varney, her husband Phil Varney and John P Mercurio Jr her godchild of Burlington(whom adored her), MA; her brother-in-law James "Jim" Fitzgerald and his wife Diana of Burlington, MA; and her cherished grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and close friends. She was predeceased by her beloved sons John and Michael-whom we truly hope the Alzheimer's prevented her from knowing she buried within the last few years (10 months apart)-her parents, and her siblings Patricia "Patzy" Balduf, George "Butch" Balduf, and Robert "Bobby" Lord.
Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Sunday, November 16 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Monday, November 17 at 10:00 a.m. Services will conclude with a Funeral Mass at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, 111 Winn Street, Burlington at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.