SALISBURY - Alma Mae Fitzgerald, formerly of Delmar, entered heaven on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 at the John B. Parsons Home in Salisbury.
She was born in Wilmington on May 26, 1925, daughter of Robert and Catherine R. Welsh and nurtured by Joseph and Ethel Draper.
In her younger years, Alma worked in different positions for several companies including DuPont, Deer's Head Hospital and the Holly Center. She loved and treasured being a homemaker and raising her family. Everyone that knew and loved her will remember her keeping an immaculate home and being a wonderful cook who loved hosting family dinners, and one who lovingly cared for her flowers and yard. She was a long time member of Delmarva Evangelistic Church in Salisbury. She truly appreciated the visits and pastoral care she received from the pastors and friends from Cross Pointe Church of the Nazarene and Coastal Hospice. In addition to her church, she was dedicated to her devotional reading and Bible studies. In her later days, she enjoyed the friendships made with the staff and residents of the John B. Parsons Home and Harbor Pointe.
She is survived by her children, Ben Vanderwende and his wife, Dru, Kathy Fitzgerald Outten and her husband, David and Kay Marie Jester and her husband, Jack, all of Salisbury; grandchildren, Joe Vanderwende (Lori) and Kara Jester Waggoner (Kyle); great-grandchildren, Brad (Heather), Marley (Taylor), Kyrsten, Nikki and Joey (Alarie); and great-great-grandchildren, Taylor, Ben and Abby. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Richard Fitzgerald, who passed in 2001; an infant son, Robert Thomas Vanderwende; a granddaughter, Caryn Vanderwende; and brothers, Robert and Wilbur Welsh.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Springhill Memory Gardens in Hebron. Pastor Joel Beiler will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802.
Arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home of Delmar. Online condolences may be expressed at www.shortfh.com.