LaVada FitzGerald

LaVada FitzGerald, 84, of Beattie, KS, died Monday, January 27, at Lincoln, NE. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Kinsley Mortuary. A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, at St. Malachy's Catholic Church, Beattie. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 31, at St. Malachy's. Father Jim Shaughnessy will officiate. Cindy Voet will play the organ while Ron and Fran Grauer lead the congregation singing “Be Not Afraid”, “The Servant Song”, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and “How Great Thou Art”. The pallbearers will be Andy Koch, Robert Smith, Andy Chaves, Adam Seagren, Jeremy FitzGerald and Russell FitzGerald. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Beattie. LaVada was born on June 25, 1929 at Home, KS, to Arnold and Wilhelmina (Schwarz) Hill. In 1946, she graduated from Marysville High School. On July 3, 1951, LaVada was married to Gerald “Jerry” FitzGerald at St. Gregory’s Rectory. They farmed for many years and did harvesting for 34 years. LaVada taught at a Marshall County Country School and worked for Ar-Ex Drug Store. LaVada did her own floral arrangements for her wedding in 1951 and her interest in flowers grew from there. She provided flowers from her home for many years until opening LaVada’s Flowers & Gifts in 1989. She enjoyed softball and baseball games and watching her grandchildren’s activities. She was an active member of St. Malachy’s Catholic Church and liked meeting friends for coffee at the café. Survivors include daughter, Coleen (David) Koch, Summerfield; son, Kelly (Sue) FitzGerald, Home; brother, Arwayne Hill, Home; seven grandchildren, Abby Nemecheck, Katie (Andy) Chaves, Andy Koch, Jeremy (Katie) FitzGerald, Russ (Renae) FitzGerald, Cassi FitzGerald, and Sara (Rob) Smith; and six great-grandchildren, Kellen and Kyler Chaves, Ben FitzGerald, Landon FitzGerald, and Addison and London Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jerry on November 4, 2011; and son, Kirby FitzGerald in 1987. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated by the family. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary, Marysville. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of LaVada FitzGerald, please visit our flower store.