DoraLee Fitzhenry

DoraLee Fitzhenry (Fratangelo), 81, peacefully on Thursday, April 29, 2021. She was born on April 20, 1940, and was a life-long resident of Hazelwood, PA. From a very early age, DoraLee had a very kind, caring, giving, nurturing, generous, compassionate spirit and a deep faith and love for her God. Those qualities carried throughout her life as she willingly and graciously gave of herself to friends, neighbors, community and family. She cared for sick friends, neighbors, her mother, and brother, Charles, selflessly.  DoraLee loved her work with the Pittsburgh Diocese Santa Sofia House of Studies, where she worked under Bishop Leonard with nuns who came from different states and countries to study in Pittsburgh. They appreciated and enjoyed her culinary expertise as did her family, neighbors and friends. Especially her spaghetti sauce, meatballs, and salads! She also enjoyed her City of Pittsburgh Crossing Guard position, where she considered the children she protected “her kids”. DoraLee was blessed with five children and continued raising them on her own after losing her husband, James P., in 1975. As her family grew, so did her abounding love. She was the loving matriarch, the heart, the hub of her family and shared a unique and special bond with each and everyone of them. Mother, gram, sister, aunt, friend, counselor, confidant, advisor, advocate to one and all. She always made time for a kind, caring word and hug for everyone and welcomed all as family!

DoraLee is the beloved mother of Marie (late Thomas) McBride, Cindy Kelly, Mary Beth (Murph) Fitzhenry, Colleen (Mark) Ruby, and James “JimBo” (Shawna) Fitzhenry; Beloved grandmother and great-grandmother of Michael, Tara, Jason, Heather, Jacob, Rebecca, Samira, Colin, Caleb, and CoraLee; (late Anthony), Theresa, Micayla, Jaylynne, Francesco, Mya, Thomas, Cruz, Jonathan, Mia and Vivian. These loving and adoring grandchildren brought her so much joy, laughter and kept her so young! She couldn’t have been prouder of each of them. DoraLee was preceded in death by her husband, James P. Fitzhenry, parents Joseph M. and Edith F. (Crist) Fratangelo, brother Charles, and great-grandson, Anthony Merced Kelly. She is also survived by her sisters, Edith Crandall, Johann Fratangelo, Annette (Thomas) Hollis, brothers Joseph (Claire) and Michael (Lori) Fratangelo; and survived by sister-in-law, Naomi Fitzhenry and brother-in-law Stephen “Ronnie” Fitzhenry, “favorite cousin” Nancy Cahill, niece, Liz Mink, and many more loving and adoring nieces and nephews. DoraLee loved her Facebook family and friends, and her UPMC Magee family and friends!

Family and friends will be received on Sunday, May 2, 2021 & Monday, May 3, 2021 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM & 7:00 to 9:00 PM at George Irvin Green Funeral Home, Inc. 3511 Main Street, Munhall (412.461.6394). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at NOON in St. Paul Cathedral Parish, St. Stephen’s R.C. Church Worship Site, 5115 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions can be made in DoraLee’s memory to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to the UPMC Magee-Womens Patient Care Fund.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.georgeigreenfuneralhome.com.