Lillian S. Fitzpatrick

Lillian Marie (Staab) Fitzpatrick, 92, passed away on August 7, 2014 at Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo, Colorado, with her family by her side. She was born in Catherine, Kansas, on October 17, 1921, the oldest of six children, born to Anna (Hefner) & Joseph W. Staab.

She attended Catholic schools in Topeka, Kansas, was graduated from Catholic High in 1939, and then attended Dodds School of Business in Topeka. She did a great deal of travelling throughout the US and Cuba from 1936 until 1952.


Lillian went to work in the Car Services Department for the Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka and later was Legal Secretary/Stenographer in the Legal Department of the railroad. It was there that she met her husband, Charles K. Fitzpatrick. They were married on June 14, 1952. She left that employment to move with her husband to Pueblo, Colorado, in 1953.


Charles was transferred to La Junta in 1961. She always said that moving to La Junta was one of the best moves they ever made, because it was a wonderful place to raise a family, and she felt like she had been put in a special place with all the good friends that she met in La Junta. She loved living in a community where people cared about each other. (So many have shared with her children that they considered Lillian the dearest friend.)


Lillian worked for 12 years as a part-time stenographer for Attorney John Stewart until his retirement in 2007.


She was a member of the Our Lady of Guadalupe/St Patrick Parish and was active in the church and serving in the yearly church bazaars. She belonged to multiple bridge clubs, was part of Marian Coterie, a member of PEO, and an AVRMC auxiliary volunteer. She was a regular at Curves, and a founding member of the Friday Night Supper Club.


She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles K. Fitzpatrick (Dec 18, 2011) and is survived by her sons, Tom Fitzpatrick of La Junta; Mike (Christy) Fitzpatrick of Superior, CO; Sean (Thais) Fitzpatrick of Elbert, CO; Pat (Leigh) Fitzpatrick of La Junta; Tim Fitzpatrick of La Junta; her daughter Sally Fitzpatrick of Sydney, Australia; grandchildren Brian, Derek, Cooper, Lily and Bali Fitzpatrick, as well as two step grandchildren, Taylor and Drew Krenwinkle. She is also survived by two sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.


At the family’s request, for those who would like to pay their respects, please consider making a donation to your favourite charity or simply pass along an act of kindness in her honor.


Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.



Her Memorial Service will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe/St Patrick Parish at 3:00 pm on August 22, 2014 with a reception following in the Church Hall.