Mary Cecilia Fettig

Mary Cecilia Fettig, aged 88, passed away peacefully in her home in Jacksonville, Florida, on February 7, 2025 leaving behind a legacy of love and warmth in the hearts of her family and friends. 

Mary was born on February 17, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Albert E. and Charlotte (Swanson) Halstead. Upon graduation from West Catholic Girls High School (1954) in Philadelphia, she joined the US Air Force. While stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, she met, fell in love with, and on April 12, 1958, married James Nicklace Fettig of Fargo, North Dakota. Together, Jim and Mary enjoyed 53 years of marriage and raised four children; Theresa Mary (1959), Colleen Cecilia (1960), Lawrence James (1961) and Louise (died at birth, 1964), and led lives of adventure in California (13 years), Pennsylvania (14 years), Kentucky (27 years), and Florida (10 years).

Mary loved to dance and enjoyed being the "life of the party". Mary brought out the best in people and no one was ever a stranger for long. She could talk to anyone and quickly became "best friends". Because she wanted to hear your story, she often greeted you with, "how ya doing kiddo?" Mary had a great sense of humor and loved making people laugh. She loved traveling, hosting monthly dinner parties and annual Kentucky Derby parties, cruising with the Old Car Club, luncheons with her Red Hats, and pizza with her family.

She was a devoted wife to Jim, "Mother Mary" to her children, "Grammy" to her grandchildren, and "GiGi" to her great-grandchildren. Mary is survived and missed by three children and their spouses: Theresa (John Sims), Colleen, and Lawrence (Donna); seven grandchildren: Annalisa Sims, Marcella Sims (Brian Rosado), Johnna Sims, Billy Sims, James Fettig, L.J. Fettig (Brittany), Lindsey Rossoll; and five great-grandchildren: Xiomara Rosado-Sims, Ayden Fettig, Kayla and Nicholas Jury, and Lucas Rossoll.

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Mary, Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 9401 Staples Mill Dr., Jacksonville, Florida. Interment with military honors will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Camp Nelson National Military Cemetery, Nicholasville, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, Mary requests donations to support a young Catholic student in her parish. Checks may be addressed to Mary, Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 9401 Staples Mill Dr., Jacksonville, Florida, 32244, Attention: Student Scholarship Fund.

Though we mourn her passing, we take comfort in the memories Mary leaves behind. We trust she is now reunited and dancing in eternal peace with her beloved Jim.