Marguerite “Margie” Ann Fitzgibbon
Marguerite (Margie/Cookie) Ann Fitzgibbon was a loving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and teacher. She passed away peacefully in her home in Camp Hill, PA surrounded by her three daughters on June 15, 2022.
She was born to Michael and Marie Colonnese on October 9, 1942, in the Bronx in New York City where she grew up with two brothers, one older, one younger. She graduated from nursing school with an R.N. and worked as a pediatric nurse at Bellevue Hospital in New York, where she began to develop her passion for working with children. Margie met Jim Fitzgibbon at a friend’s home and they bonded over volunteer work through St. Brigid’s Church in the East Village, particularly with homeless and drug-addicted teens. They fell quickly in love, went on to marry, and had three daughters.
Margie and Jim raised their children in Trenton, New Jersey, where Margie worked at Blessed Sacrament School (BSS) as the school nurse, and later as a the preschool teacher. She also founded and ran an afterschool program at BSS. Margie went on to work with children in several capacities over the years, including at El Centro in Trenton where she provided in-home case management support for young children and their parents in the Spanish-speaking community. Her last job before retiring was at the Joshua Group Preschool Program in Harrisburg, PA, which she was recruited to help start. This is a full-day preschool program for 3, 4, and 5 year olds from low-income families living in the city of Harrisburg. The program intentionally targets children most at risk of entering school both academically and socially unprepared, such as children from neighborhood shelters and soup kitchens, and those who are on the Head Start waiting list.
Margie was well loved by her students, many of whom continued a relationship with her throughout her life. She always felt strongly about social justice and passed this value on to her daughters.
One of Margie’s favorite places was Jones Beach State Park in Long Island, NY where she spent many childhood summer days playing with her cousins. Her most peaceful memory was floating on the waves looking up at the sky. She spoke of it often and wished to be there again, floating weightlessly, in the arms of mother nature. That is probably what Margie’s heaven looks like.
Margie is survived by her husband Jim, three daughters and sons-in-law: Genevieve Fitzgibbon [Chris Wonders], Rebecca Fitzgibbon [Greg Elder] and Lyric Fitzgibbon [Todd Tabor], her brother and sister-in-law Mickey [Carol] Colonnese, her grandchildren, Lilia Fitzgibbon Wonders, Elijah and Rachel Elder, and Luna Tabor, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews who loved her dearly.
Funeral Service/ Celebration of Life will be held at Saint Francis of Assisi Church at 1439 Market St., Harrisburg Pennsylvania, 17103 on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, you are encouraged to make donations to Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Harrisburg [address above] or to the Joshua Group, 1442 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17103 – http://www.joshuagroup.org/donate-now
The Sullivan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Fitzgibbon family.