Ramonda Lee Fitzgerald

Ramonda Lee Fitzgerald, 87, of Howland Twp. passed away peacefully at 7:32 AM Saturday Feb.19, 2011 at Trumbull Memorial Hospital surrounded by her grandsons. Ramonda, born on August 13, 1923 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma was the daughter of Raymond F. and Lelia (Stewart) Carroll. She was reared and educated in Enid, OK and upon her graduation from Enid High School, she attended Sullins College in Bristol, Virginia. She also attended Oklahoma State University and was affiliated with Pi Beta Phi women's sorority. On February 26, 1944, she married her beloved husband, the late Leo Frederick Fitzgerald who passed away on Dec. 24, 1987. After her marriage, Ramonda continued to pursue a degree in primary education and taught kindergarten in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, and Royal Oak, Michigan. Upon moving to Howland in 1961, she attended Youngstown State University and graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in primary education. She spent her entire professional career as a loving kindergarten teacher to thousands of children, and her final teaching years were spent at H.C. Mines Elementary and Howland Glen Elementary schools. Along with her passion to educate children, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a very proud grandparent and was always in attendance at her grandchildren's soccer, baseball, basketball, and football games as well as every academic event. Recently seeing her great-grandchildren from Florida brought added joy to her life. Ramonda was a member of the Howland Community Church, the Howland Retired Teachers Assoc., and SCOPE where she was a member of the Senior Dancers. She tap-danced and performed in the Senior Follies until the age of 80. Ramonda will be sadly and deeply missed by her daughter and son-in-law Ramonda and Paul Rek of Howland, her son Gregg (Rosalee) Fitzgerald of Copley, OH, and son Steve (Nancy) Fitzgerald of Charlotte, NC. She also leaves her grandchildren, Ryan and Marc Rek, Shawn and Ryan Fitzgerald, and Patrick and Meagan Fitzgerald. In addition to her grandchildren, she leaves four great grandchildren, Jade, Sage, Logan, and Landon, a niece Linda Potter, and two nephews, Charles Carroll Jr. and Patrick Carroll. Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Charles Carroll Sr. and his wife Marcia. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday Feb. 22, 2011 at the Howland Community Church. The Rev. Dr. Brian Byrne will officiate. Friends will be received from 6-8 PM Monday at Roberts-Clark Chapel and for 1 hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. Interment will be in Crown Hill Burial Park. The family requests that material contributions be made to the Howland Community Scholarships Foundation 8200 South St. Warren, OH 44484 in memory of Ramonda Fitzgerald.