Obituary of Clelia Fitzgerald

Clelia Slaib Fitzgerald of Basking Ridge and Jersey City, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 4th.  Born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Clelia dreamed of moving to the United States since her childhood. Prior to moving to New York City in 1967, she received her accounting degree from Educandario Ruy Barbosa Escola Techenica and worked for the United States Agency for International Development for USAID in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Upon moving to the United States, she lived and worked in New York City before moving to Jersey City. She retired from the Jersey City Board of Education in 1997.

Clelia was happily married to her loving husband of 46 years, and together they raised two daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth. Clelia enjoyed spending time with her family, playing the piano, dancing, skydiving, and traveling. Of all the places she’s been, her favorite city in the world was Amsterdam. 

She is predeceased by her husband William (Bill) Fitzgerald, her parents Jose and Maria Julia Slaib, her sisters, Pearl-White Slaib Fadlalla, Najime Slaib Pereira, Jamile Slaib, Laila Slaib Ferreira, Eva Slaib da Cunha Gomes, and her brother, Mauricio Slaib. She is survived by her sisters, Mariem Slaib and Haidee Slaib Barreto Pinto, her daughter Margaret and son-in-law Geoff von der Linden, her daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Adelino Pujals, granddaughters Hana and Heidi von der Linden, and several loving nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Oct 10^th 11:00am at the Church of St. James, 184 South Finley Ave, Basking ridge. Family and friends are invited to visit Clelia’s family on Oct 9^th from 6-8pm at the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider making a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/nj?form=FUNSETYDEFK