Eileen Fitch

On the evening of Saturday January 13th of 2024, Eileen Marie Fitch (née Best) joined our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom. She passed peacefully while surrounded by her loving husband and children after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. She will always be remembered as a kind, intelligent woman who was devoted to her family. Eileen was born an only child to Howard and Catherine Best on September 25th 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Lindblom High School, graduating in 1960 before obtaining her Bachelors of Science in 1964 from the Chicago Teachers College, where she found a passion for educating children. After graduating, Eileen taught for four years in the Chicago school system. One of her favorite stories was how she met her first husband, John A Gill, while waiting at a bus stop on their way to their jobs at the VA hospital. The two wed in 1963 and had four children together, who were their entire world. They were married almost 14 wonderful years before John’s tragic passing in 1977. Eileen married again in 1979 to Chicago-native William F Doyle (deceased 1988) and moved to Vienna, Virginia in 1983. In 1985, she began teaching at Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School (Archdiocese of Arlington), where she continued for nearly two decades, before retiring in 2003. In 1991, Eileen married her present husband, Captain Robert S Fitch USN (ret), and gained two stepsons, John (Andrea) and Kevin, who she loved as her own. Within this union the pair witnessed the marriages of their children and the welcoming of their grandchildren. Together, they loved to travel the world, often cruising with groups of Bob’s classmates. Eileen was an avid reader and could often be found with a book nearby. She enjoyed music and loved to play the piano. Eileen had a vast variety of stories to tell. Her favorites always involved her family. She could recall the smallest details and keep the listener engaged as she shared the stories of her life. She is left behind by her devoted husband Bob and children James Gill (Lana), Timothy Gill (Cynthia), Mary Gill Pierson (Paul), Julie Gill Krupa (Jack) and John (Andrea) Fitch. She was blessed with 12 grandchildren: James, Caroline, Derek, Christopher, and John Robert; Jonathan (Jen), Faith, Andrew, and Ben; Eileen; Reagan and Maezy all of whom she treasured deeply. Eileen’s life was a great one and will be remembered as such. Her love and generosity inspired the lives of those around her. The world was left a better place because of her presence. Visitation will be at the Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas, VA on Friday 19 January at the Piece Funeral Home in Manassas from 5-8 PM followed by a Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, VA on Saturday 20 January at 1:30 PM. Burial will be in Chicago at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11:00AM.

Eileen Fitch

September 25, 1942 - January 13, 2024