Elaine T. Fitzgerald

Elaine Teresita Fitzgerald, nee Balkas, 79, of Frankfort, Illinois passed away on Wednesday, January 14 after an illness. She is survived by her best friend and devoted husband of 49 years, William; loving sister of Thomas Balkas; dearest mother of Edward (Megan), Charles (Lindsay), and Jonathan (Teresa); loving grandmother of Ellie, Noah, Charlie, Lilly, and Thomas; kind aunt to many nieces and nephews; and friends. Elaine earned her nursing degree from Moraine Valley Community College, and her BSN from the University of St. Francis. She was a wonderful nurse who provided compassionate care to thousands of people during her 25-year home health career. Prior to her nursing career, Elaine developed lifelong friends while working at the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad and in retail. An avid gardener and animal lover, Elaine was often busy doting on the family pets when she wasn’t tending to her flowers and vegetables. She was also passionate about her Roman Catholic faith, being a longtime parishioner of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Frankfort. Elaine had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, and she was a patron of numerous charitable causes reflecting her faith and her Lithuanian heritage. Her sense of humor, infectious laugh, love of learning, and the unwavering commitment she had to her family, friends, and her patients will be missed by all who knew her. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Agatha Balkas; sister Rita (Tyke) Steffan; sister Carol (David) Kovacevich; and brother Philip (Mary Alice) Balkas. The visitation will be Sunday, January 18 from 2 pm to 7 pm at Kurtz Memorial Chapel in Frankfort. The Funeral Mass will take place Monday, January 19 at 10 am at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Interment at St. Casmir Catholic Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://donorservices.alz.org) or to Catholic Charities (https://catholiccharitiesjoliet.org).