KAREN DENISE FITZGERALD
October 18, 1958 ~ November 28, 2022
Karen Denise Fitzgerald (Craft) was born October 18th, 1958 to the late Dennis and Maria Craft (Mitchell) in Oakland, California. She was the middle of five children and was introduced to Christ at a very early age while attending East St Matthew Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX. In her adult years, she joined Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX. Karen was full of laughter, love and bossiness from the time she came out of the womb.
During her very early years, Karen attended school internationally in Germany as her father was active duty military. She later attended school at P.F. Stewart Elementary School, Davis Middle School and graduated in 1977 from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio ISD. She played sports for J Street Park, with Basketball being her favorite and most skilled. Skating was one of Karen’s most favorite and enjoyable things to do. She also enjoyed braiding hair and cooking her favorite “weekend special” foods; tacos, pepper steak with rice and eggrolls, or enchiladas. Karen had a passion for working in Food Service and landed a job at the Barn Door Restaurant where she worked for many years. She later decided she wanted to work for the School District that she attended for many of her childhood years, so Karen became employed by San Antonio ISD at Sam Houston High School where she also worked in Food Service preparing food for the students, staff and administration. Karen was loved by many of the staff and students at Sam Houston High School. She genuinely enjoyed fussing at the students, cracking jokes with them, and ultimately giving them something to look forward to when they came though her line no matter what they were going through. The many years she worked at Sam Houston High School were some of the best years of her life. Karen furthered her education at St. Philip’s Community College in San Antonio, TX.
Karen was blessed with a large and loving family. She married her best friend, Melvin Bruce Fitzgerald, July 23, 1984 in San Antonio, TX. Together they had five loving daughters. Karen’s children were her life; she would do anything to keep her children happy and healthy. Karen found happiness in making other people laugh, seeing her children play sports, and takingcare of her grandchildren at “Granny Daycare.” There was never a dull moment when Karen was around.
Karen entered eternal rest on Monday, November 28th, 2022. She is survived by her best friend and husband, Melvin Fitzgerald; her amazing daughters, Yvonne Craft, Melisha Craft-Fitzgerald, Melva Fitzgerald, Melissa Newton (Patrick), and Mary Fitzgerald; her bother Warren “Mike” Craft, and two sisters, Sonya Eddington and Phyllis Craft; a host of grandchildren; E’vonisha Craft-Archie, Elijah White, Jordan Fitzgerald-Myers, Morgan Fitzgerald-Myers, Jamareon Newton, Patrick Newton Jr, Jaliyah Newton, Gianni Newton,Da’monei Campbell, Devin Campbell, Amya Miller-Singleton, Rashad Miller-Singleton, Stephanie Miller-Singleton and Zoë Collins; a great-granddaughter, Zayla Garcia and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
She is preceded in death by both of her parents, Dennis and Maria Craft; and her loving brother Kenneth Mitchell.
Services
Interment following service: December 7, 2022 12:00 am - August 26, 2025 2:31 pm
Meadowlawn Memorial ParkView current weather.
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I’m going to always remember how you had us all crammed up in that party van with the sliding door. And one thing I’ll never forget is those tacos you use to make me every summer when I visited. I’m going to miss you Aunt Karen.
Sending love to my cousins at this time. I remember Mrs. Karen always braiding my hair as a lil girl and growing up on Kilrea.
What can I say? More than an aunt. I have been up under this young lady since I was a little girl. A mother, a sister, a friend, and the list goes on. I absolutely love this woman. She was always there for me through many ups and downs since I was a little girl. She always had a way to bring positive energy by doing your hair, giving you something to eat, saying something funny or slick, singing a song, dancing, talking your ear off and so many other great attributes. I love my auntie and will miss her dearly.
So many stories. Getting my hair done, getting something to eat, taking care of my son (I trusted no one but her with him), singing, dancing, the pickle place, the candy lady, pepper steak and rice, stories about her crew (the girls & and her grandkids). An aunt, mother, friend, granny, and the list goes on. A woman of all trades. She was a happy place for me. I love my auntie and will miss her dearly.
Karen I will always remember your beautiful warm smile, your thoughtful kind ways, your encouraging words, but most of all your love of celebrating family. I will miss your earthly presence, but you left a living legacy in your girls. Cousins be comforted by knowing your Mom is at peace.
I will always remember that whenever we ran into each other at the store, we’d laugh and talk. Your smile was always so uplifting.
Always smiling when I saw her. We didn’t spend a lot of time together but whenever we encountered each other, she had a big smile. I remember when she braided my granddaughters hair. She enjoyed doing things for others. Heavens gain and she will be missed.