Book of Memories for Frances Pauline Fitzpatrick

Story shared: Frances the unflappable

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 23:46:32 EDT

I was in the St. Mary's choir where Frances directed our motley crew. Frances had a great sense of humor and was a good music director and she had patience with the the choir no matter how good or bad it sounded (not much choice when you live in Aberdeen).

I still can recall one Sunday morning Marge Celich was playing the organ when the sun, for once, broke through the clouds and a bright beam of sunlight came through the back stained glass window in the choir loft (yeah, through a broken piece of glass where there was no glass) and it hit Marge right between the eyes just as she was turning the page of the music and it sounded like she laid her arms across both upper and lower manuals… it was just this massive sound of all the notes so of course it sounded horrible and we all stopped singing and Frances looked at her in disbelief and then we all started laughing because it was so awful and I am sure everyone down in the pews was wondering what was going on… I think Frances leaned over the balcony railing and said something like “morning has broken” if I recall correctly!

But she got us all going again on the hymn except for me because I was laughing so hard I was crying and I had to sit down on the floor… oh my gosh… The choir always sounded a bit rough anyway because it was the early morning mass and the singers would trickle in to the choir loft so the opening hymn always sounded like the start of the day in the barnyard with the chickens going baaaaak, bak bak…

After Monday night practice we would go have coffee and I always enjoyed Francie’ and her stories and her wry sense of humor.

I hope you have many happy memories

-Nathan

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Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:14:38 EDT

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Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:14:38 EDT

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Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:14:37 EDT

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Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:14:37 EDT

Condolence From Carol O'Neill Hasko

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:35:31 EDT

Mrs Fitzpatrick, what a wonderful lady! thinking of her brings memories of cozy Friday nights when I got to stay over, fish sticks and chocolate milk, laying on the shag carpet watching TV. I always wanted to stay at your house Helen. it was fun and so full of love. I feel so very grateful to have had your mom as my other mom in grade school, and grateful for her loving friendship with my mom. sending love, hugs and prayers to each of you.

Condolence From Tam Lutz

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 23:14:21 EDT

Fitzpatrick family ... I am so sorry for your loss. What and incredible mother you had. It was so interesting to read what an accomplished person and interesting life she led. As a kid growing up with Helen at St Mary's, I often saw your mom up above during mass singing away. Your family will always remind me of my own childhood in Aberdeen, those big catholic families that made my family of 5 seem small. My children always have to endure my, "that's were the Fitzpatrick's lived, that's where the other Fitzpatrick house used to be, that where the O'Neill's lived, etc..", as I map the family houses back to my own childhood home each time I return to Aberdeen. I'll be thinking of you all and praying for you all.

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Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:40:16 EDT

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Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:40:15 EDT

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Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:40:15 EDT

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Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:40:15 EDT

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Tue, 29 Sep 2015 11:58:40 EDT

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Mon, 28 Sep 2015 07:02:50 EDT