Waterford in mourning: City stalwart is laid to rest
A notice outside George's Court Shopping Centre on Monday, as the funeral took place of the late Kathleen Fitzgerald.
Waterford is deep in mourning this week at the loss of one of its most important figures.
As the coffin of the late Kathleen Fitzgerald (nee Butler), of Dunmore East, made its way onto the drizzly street outside the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity on Monday, the large funeral congregation gathered just steps away from George’s Court Shopping Centre; its shutters closed and hallways empty in mourning.
Kathleen was a director of George’s Court for decades, through which she helped shape, not only Waterford retail, but the very heart and soul of the city centre.
Her business ventures, community work and charity endeavours have moulded Waterford, quietly touching countless lives whether they realise it or not.
At her funeral mass, Kathleen was described as “inspirational, formidable, kind”, and, most importantly, as a lady who valued family above all.
Kathleen passed away peacefully on January 9 following a brief illness.
A successful and respected businesswoman, Kathleen was a director of George's Court Shopping Centre in the city centre, along with several other business interests, which started with the establishment of the 'Mother Needs' store in the 1970s.
She has left her mark on Waterford in countless ways, from pedestrianising streets to developing car parks.
As Kathleen herself graciously told this newspaper in 2023: “We started the pedestrianisation of Waterford. We came here in 1976 and I think we started it then. It was only as far as T&H Doolan's when we first started it and bit by bit it extended and extended. Barronstrand Street was done in 1989, 1990, and John Roberts Square but it started here in the late 1970s.
"My late husband and I were involved in the building of the carpark on The Quay because there was nowhere to park. We got together a group of city centre retailers and built the carpark on the Quay, the first section of it, and then the Port built the rest of it. Giving us 300 spaces made all the difference in the world.”
Kathleen also served as a Director of Waterford Chamber from 2000 to 2014 and served with distinction as President of Waterford Chamber from 2006 to 2007.
In 2011, she made history as the first female president of Waterford Rotary Club.
Tributes poured in from Waterford’s business community this week, commending Kathleen’s strength, vision and creativity.
CEO of Waterford Chamber Gerald Hurley said that Kathleen “made an outstanding contribution to the business community in Waterford”.
“Kathleen will be fondly remembered for her professionalism, generosity, and lasting impact on Waterford’s business and civic life,” Mr. Hurley said.
The Cathedral in Waterford city was packed with a congregation of family, friends and the wider Waterford community for Kathleen's funeral mass on Monday.
Fr. John Harris said: "There is a great sense of sadness in Waterford today because Kathleen’s known presence in the city will be missed.”
In his homily, Fr. Harris reflected on Kathleen’s “excellent business instinct, attention to detail and her nurturing of the many who worked for her.”
Waterford and its people held a special place in Kathleen’s heart, Fr. Harris added.
Whether it be her business or charity work, Kathleen helped make life in Waterford better for so many people.
However, her successful entrepreneurial ventures never took precedence over family.
She married her beloved husband Liam in 1968.
The pair always worked as a team to build a future for themselves and their children.
Their time together was tragically cut short after Liam passed away when Kathleen was 44.
Although devastated over Liam’s loss, Kathleen was determined to continue to build the future that she and her husband had always promised each other.
She remained a wise and loving mother and grandmother, who was “always right in her advice, but never gloated".
The business never drove a wedge, and family always came first.
When she reached retirement age, Kathleen chose to stay working so she could be with her children every day while they managed the business.
Despite being tired, she would stay in work because she wanted to be with her children.
During her final days and nights spent in hospital, Kathleen would tell her children, Lisa and Bill, to go home and rest, having spent long hours by her bedside.
They would say no because they wanted to be with their mother.
In his touching eulogy, Kathleen’s son Billy described his mother as an “incredible force of nature”.
She had unending motivation and drive. She was inspirational, formidable and kind, he said.
“Helping take care of her for the past couple of weeks and be there for her in her final hours was the greatest privilege of our lives,” he concluded.
Kathleen was laid to rest following funeral mass, at Killea Church Cemetery in Dunmore East.
Her family extended heartfelt thanks for the exceptional care she received from all the staff of the Stroke Unit and Palliative Care Oak Ward at University Hospital Waterford during her short illness.
Predeceased by her husband Liam, parents Tom and Nellie and brother Thomas, Kathleen is sadly missed by her loving son Bill, daughter Lisa, grandchildren Luca, Poppy, Tilda and Finn, son-in-law Philip, daughter-in-law Irene, brothers John, Teddy and Don, sisters Mary and Helen, brother-in-law Bob, sisters-in-law Lucy, Mary and Finola, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.
May She Rest in Peace.
