Fern Fitzpatrick, 86, formerly of Slippery Rock and Baldwin, died at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday at Concordia Ministries in Cabot.

Born in Bethel Park, Allegheny County, May 14, 1923, she was the daughter of Elsie Sims.

She married Robert Lee Fitzpatrick on April 27, 1943. He preceded her in death Sept. 5, 1994.

She retired in 1985 from U.S. Steel, Pittsburgh. where she was a manager of keypunch operations.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick was a lifelong member of the Concordia Lutheran Church in Brentwood and attended All Saints Lutheran Church in Slippery Rock, where she assisted with the student campus ministry at Slippery Rock University.

She enjoyed crocheting afghans, ribbon crosses and angels.

Surviving are four sons, the Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Jan, of Elmhurst, Ill., David M. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Janet, of Baltimore, the Rev. Dennis G. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Marsha, of Blytheville, Ark., and the Rev. Paul J. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Mary, of Newton, N.C.; and a daughter, Sheryl L. Fitzpatrick of Simi Valley, Calif. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Timothy, Christina, Sarah, Dennis Jr., DeAnn, Aaron and Theresa Fitzpatrick and Jennifer and Christopher Beiter; and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to her mother and her husband, she was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Michael and Tamara Fitzpatrick.

<B>FITZPATRICK</B> — Friends of Fern Fitzpatrick, who died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, will be received from 9:30 until time of service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the All Saints Lutheran Church, Slippery Rock, with the Rev. Michael Scheer, pastor of All Saints, presiding. Interment will be later at the convenience of the family.Memorial contributions may be given to All Saints Lutheran Church, 351 S. Main St., Slippery Rock, PA 16057 or to Concordia Lutheran Ministries, 615 N. Pike Road, Cabot, PA 16023.Arrangements are being handled by the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, Slippery Rock.