Gloria Ann “Carter” Fitzgerald died Friday, May 2, 2014, at her home in LaPorte.
Carter, as she liked to be known, was born Feb. 3, 1948, and raised in Portsmouth, VA. She earned her undergraduate degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, and her Master of Social Welfare degree from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. She lived in the Tidewater area until she met and married her husband, Douglas, in 1980. Since then she lived briefly in Chicago, eight years in Lakeland, FL, and for the last 25 years in LaPorte. In her early career, she was a human resource manager in the healthcare industry, working at the Watson Clinic in Lakeland, FL, and Holy Cross Care Services in South Bend, IN. In 1995, she started The Carter Group, a human resource consulting firm, which she has run for the last 19 years.
Carter was an exceptionally hard worker and was dedicated to her clients and business. She was also a generous and giving person who had great love and compassion for animals. Over the years she owned five dogs and numerous cats. Feeding time at home was a sight to be seen. Carter was active in Rotary International and the local chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Carter was predeceased by her father, Herbert E. Carter Jr. She is survived by her husband, Douglas Fitzgerald, and her mother, Virginia Carter.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 8, from 6 to 7 p.m. Eastern time at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth, VA. A graveside service will be held at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Suffolk, VA, on Friday, May 9, at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
Locally, a remembrance for Carter will be held at the LaSalle Grill, 115 W. Colfax, South Bend, on Thursday, May 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
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Online condolences may be made at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.