Joanne (Merry) Fitzpatrick

Joanne Merry Fitzpatrick of Bayonne, New Jersey passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 26, 2026, surrounded by immediate family in her beloved second home of Spring Lake, New Jersey.  She was born in Batavia, New York on March 20, 1948 to the late Adelbert Merry and Katherine Merry (Née Flynn).

Joanne is also preceded in death by her beloved sister Elizabeth McCurdy, her husband David McCurdy, and many family members from Maine.  She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Harold Fitzpatrick; daughter Elizabeth Fitzpatrick and her partner Michael Wahl; son Kevin Fitzpatrick and his wife Christie; son Matthew Fitzpatrick and his wife Caitlin; son Christopher Fitzpatrick; niece Katherine Willette, her husband Thomas, and their children Clare, Emma and Audrey Willette; nephew John McCurdy, his wife Laura, and their children Ian and Aren McCurdy; and many cousins.  Joanne’s favorite role was grandmother to the four precious grandchildren that she called her dolls: Ryan, Brendan, Erin, and Gavin Fitzpatrick.

Joanne graduated from Notre Dame High School in Batavia, New York, received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Boston College, and master’s degree in public health nursing from the University of Buffalo.  She was a nurse in Boston and nursing professor of public health at Boston College and later at Columbia University.  She moved to Bayonne, New Jersey “temporarily” in 1974, where she raised her family.  She kept in touch with and cherished her close friends from her time on Prospect Avenue in Batavia and her time in Boston.  Joanne was happiest with a house full of family and friends, sharing stories and laughs, particularly on the porch and at the beach in Spring Lake.

Private cremation took place under the direction of Bayonne Memorial Home.  A Memorial Gathering will take place at Bayonne Memorial Home, located at 854 Avenue C in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A celebration of Joanne’s life will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the March of Dimes (https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give) where Joanne received scholarship assistance to attend nursing school.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Joanne (Merry) Fitzpatrick, please visit our Tree Store.