Mrs. Helen Maier Fitzsimmons' Obituary
Helen Maier Fitzsimmons went to be with the Lord on March 13, 2015 at the Hospice Center in Bayfront Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL after a long illness. She was 80 years old. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 7, 1934. Her parents, George and Julie Maier, were German immigrants who came to New York in 1922.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, William (Bill) J. Fitzsimmons. She is survived by two children: Linda C. Drake (Randall N.) and their two children, Rebekah K. and David R. Drake; and William (Bill) G. Fitzsimmons (Linda P. McDermott) and their three children, Killian M. McDermott, and Tierney M. McDermott and Riley J. Fitzsimmons. She is also survived by her sister, Elsie M. Wilson and many cousins in Germany.
Helen's parents bought her a piano when she was six years old, and she took lessons until age 13. Her first big solo was "The Holy City," which she played in church many times over the years and again two weeks before she died. Her mother played the violin, and sometimes they played piano/violin duets at home. Helen started playing piano at Bushwick Ave. Baptist Church in Brooklyn where she also learned to play the organ. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord at the age of five and was baptized at age 14.
Helen was a gifted musician and played for the AT&T Concert Symphony in New York, while she worked as a secretary for Western Electric, a subsidiary of AT&T. She had security clearance to type NIKE missile contracts and met her husband, a security guard, there.
Bill and Helen moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 1967. She started playing piano and organ at various churches in town and was led by the Lord to serve at St. James United Methodist Church for 23 years. Bill was in the Senior Choir; Helen led the Senior Adults Ministry; their children were saved there, served in a Praise Band, and Linda played the piano while Helen played the organ on Sundays. It was at this church that her daughter met and married her husband, Randy, who was also in the Praise team.
Once her children were in school, Helen worked as a secretary for Wesley Memorial UMC, American Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, as well as for United Way. She loved children and led Vacation Bible School and volunteered to help community youth learn to read in a local literacy program. She always had books in her home for her grandkids to read while they visited. She looked forward to gathering gifts for overseas children for Operation Christmas Child each year. She also taught many children to play the piano. Her greatest gift was her passion for music where she was able to express her faith in a dynamic way. She played for soloist Raymond McAfee at the Moody Keswick Saturday Concert Series and gave concerts and led hymn sing-alongs all around the city. She led Bible studies, coordinated Senior Adult ministries, led and counseled many individuals, praying with and for them.
In recent years, she worked at First Baptist Church as secretary to the pastors for Seniors (Rev. Ray Graves and Dr. Phil Lilly). She was also pianist at Northeast Park Baptist Church for many years under the leadership of the interim pastor and Rev. Sam Letson, and played piano/organ duets with the organist, Isabelle Frances. She recorded two CDs of her piano solos, "Precious Memories" and "Make Me a Blessing," which have touched many hearts.
She moved to Crossville, TN, in September 2013 to live with her daughter and family for a year. She shared her musical talents once again on the piano there at New Hope Ministries Church under Pastor Vern Daugherty before returning to FL.
Her last concert was held at Northeast Park Baptist where she gave a synopsis of her life, sharing musical selections and Scriptures that were meaningful to her throughout her life. They included "My Tribute," "How Firm a Foundation," "My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me," "Be Still and Know That I Am God" and many others. She shared Isaiah 43:1-3 and Psalm 46:1, 10. At the reception which followed, five pastors gave accolades about her ministry. Her love for the Lord and His Word sustained her throughout her life in trials, sickness and even death. She knew she was going to heaven and was looking forward to seeing Jesus.
If she were here today, as she is in spirit, she would encourage you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, ask forgiveness for sin, and trust Him as your Savior and Lord. Then, we can be sure to meet again in eternity.
There will be a Celebration Service of Helen's life on Friday, April 17th at 11:00 AM at:
Northeast Park Baptist Church 3737 1st St. NE St. Petersburg, FL (727) 896-3178 A reception will follow. All are invited.
Mom was a longtime supporter of The Gideon’s and Wycliffe. She thought they went hand in hand. Translation of the bible and the giving of it.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts may be made to:
The Gideons www.gideons.org P.O. Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214 OR You can reach out to Richard Lehner. He is a Gideon and attends NE Park Baptist Church. Or Wycliffe Bible Translators www.wycliffe.org 11221 John Wycliffe Blvd. Orlando, FL 32832
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