Published in the September 11, 2015 edition
BURLINGTON — Catherine P. (Toomey) Fitzsimmons, 73, of Melrose passed away at Lahey Clinic Hospital in Burlington on September 7.
Catherine was born in Somerville on October 5, 1941 to the late Michael and Catherine (Driscoll) Toomey. She was raised in Somerville and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Somerville. Mrs. Fitzsimmons has been a resident of Melrose for the past 48 years.
Catherine worked as a parttime administrative assistant for over 40 years, at GMAC, Metcalf & Eddie Engineering in Boston and at Flynn & Rice Insurance Company in Charlestown.
She was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Church and a member of the marriage preparation team for several years, enjoyed gardening, was an excellent cook, loved spending time in West Yarmouth and enjoyed using her time share to travel all over with her husband Robert.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons was a people person, and she could strike up a conversation with anyone and she truly loved all her doctors and caregivers at Lahey Clinic in Burlington.
Catherine was the beloved wife of 48 years to Robert W. Fitzsimmons. She was the loving mother of Maura Fitzsimmons and her husband Ernie Stone of Essex, Mark Fitzsimmons and his wife Christina of Danville, CA and Alana Fitzsimmons of Melrose. She was the proud grandmother of Lawson and Griffin Fitzsimmons. She was the dear sister of Mary Malzone of Stoneham and her late husband Ray, the late Jeremiah Toomey and his wife Margaret of Weymouth and the late John and Ruth Toomey. She is also survived by close friends Betty and Rusty Perkins of Rockland as well as numerous family members and friends.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose, on Thursday, September 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral from the Gately Funeral Home will be on Friday morning, Sept. 11, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, Herbert Street, Melrose at 11:30 a.m. Burial at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose.
Memorial contributions may be made in Catherine’s name to St. Mary’s Church, 46 Myrtle St., Melrose, MA 02176. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com.
