Published March 22, 2019
MELROSE — Martha A. (Dieter) Fitzpatrick, 72, died Thursday, March 14, 2019 at The Kaplan Hospice House surrounded by her husband and daughters.
A lifelong resident of Melrose, Martha was the daughter of David and Margaret (McGilley) Dieter. She attended St. Mary’s Grammar and St. Mary’s High School. She graduated from Lawrence Memorial Nursing School in Medford in 1967.
After living briefly in San Francisco, Ohio and South Carolina, Martha settled back in Melrose where she raised her family until her passing. Martha was a registered nurse at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital for close to 40 years before her retirement to enjoy her family. Martha and her husband Larry would have celebrated 45 years together this coming April.
Her greatest joy was being Mom to her daughters, Michelle and Julie. She was an amazing Mom who filled their lives with love and happiness mixed in with wit and sarcasm. She was very grateful for her two sons-in-law Peter and Scott who she each told was her favorite. Her most special role was that of Nanie to her grandsons Jason and Braden. She loved them with all her heart and would brag about them to anyone who would listen. She went to as many of their sporting games and school events as she was able to. They will always treasure her special meal of roast beef, green beans and warm bread from Market Basket. She would always tell them she loved them a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.
Martha is survived by her husband Lawrence P. Fitzpatrick, Jr., her daughter Michelle Martin, son-in-law Peter and grandsons Jason and Braden of Billerica; daughter Julie Ludwig, her son-in-law Scott and grand-dog Nava of Lowell. She is also survived by her sister Janet Hall, her niece Tracey Hall and her niece Jen Morse, her husband Alan and their children Abby and Ryder who are all from New Hampshire.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in gratitude to Brigham and Women’s Hospital to support the stroke and neurosciences research of Dr. Henrikas Vaitkevicius. Memorial gifts can be made online at www.bwhgiving.org or checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women’s Hospital with “in memory of Martha Fitzpatrick” in the memo line, and sent to: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Development Office, 116 Huntington Ave., 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02116. Her family will always hold her neurologist Dr. Henri and her neurosurgeon Dr. Patel close to their hearts for all they did for her while under their care.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Monday, March 18. Funeral procession from the Gately Funeral Home was on Tuesday morning March 19, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church, 9 Herbert St. Melrose. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
