Enda (Anna Maria) Fitzmaurice, age 91, passed away peacefully on the morning of October 24, 2024, surrounded by her children. Enda was born in Bawnboy, County Cavan, Ireland in 1933. She moved to London in 1953 to study nursing and later worked as a bicycling midwife. Enda’s love of travel and adventure brought her to Toronto, Canada and eventually to Santa Monica, California where she met her husband Jim Fitzmaurice. The two married in 1962.
The couple moved to Winona in 1971 when Jim accepted a teaching position at St. Mary’s University. After raising her own 7 children and providing daycare for countless other children, Enda worked in the bookstore at both the College of St. Theresa and St. Mary’s University. Enda also dedicated countless hours to volunteer and civic work in the community. She was widely recognized around town for cycling or walking back and forth to church and the YMCA each morning – a habit she maintained well into her 80’s. She will be remembered as a loving mother and wife, and a caring, loyal and fiercely independent woman who approached everyone she met with curiosity and kindness.
Enda was preceded in death by her husband James, sister Essie, and brothers Sean, Eamonn, and Gerald. She is survived by her children Deirdre (Kevin) Kolb, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Celine (Larry Olson) Fitzmaurice, Siobhan (Charles) Cavanagh, Ciaran Fitzmaurice, Colm Fitzmaurice, and Eamonn (Nina Fry) Fitzmaurice; siblings Noel (Marie) Dolan, Sr. Nuala Dolan, and Betty Scott; grandchildren Kaiser, Seamus, Amanda, Liam, Ella, Thomas, Iris, Caitlyn, Aoife, and Ellis; and a rich circle of nieces, nephews, and friends.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Saturday, Nov. 2nd at St. Mary’s Parish, Winona, with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A wake will be held on Friday, Nov. 1st from 3-6 pm at the Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home, Winona.
Enda spent her final years at the Benedictine Living Community where she was deeply cared for. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Benedictine Living Community or the Winona Health Hospice Fund.
Service entrusted to Fawcett Junker Funeral Home & Crematory, Winona, MN. Online condolences can be left at https://www.fawcett-junkerfuneralhome.com