Jeraldine Fitzgerald

Jerry Fitzgerald, a devoted wife, mother, missionary and Bible translator, passed away on January 4th, 2026, after a life marked by faith, resilience, and service. Born during the Great Depression and partially paralyzed at birth, she overcame impossible odds through God’s help. From humble beginnings as a “little bit of nothing” (as she would say), Jeraldine dedicated her life to sharing the Gospel, first committing to Christ at age 13 and later serving with New Tribes Mission (Ethnos360).

Jerry arrived in Papua New Guinea as a missionary with New Tribes Mission (Ethnos360), just 1 year after her first husband had passed away. Jerry and Ray were high school sweethearts and entered missionary training in California in 1953. While there, Ray volunteered to fight the Rattlesnake fire and sadly passed away, along with 14 other men. You can read more about that forest fire at this link: Rattlesnake Fire

They had only been married a month at that time. Despite her loss and grief, she continued to pursue the mission God had placed on her heart, to reach those who had never been reached with the Gospel.

She later met her husband, Ted Fitzgerald, who was also a missionary in Papua New Guinea. They were married there, and had 3 children: Sandra, Sharon, and Daniel. Ted and Jerry worked together to see the Hamtai people reached with the Gospel.

She spent 27 years among the Hamtai people of Papua New Guinea, translating the New Testament into their language, teaching literacy, and helping establish thriving churches. In 1981, Ted and Jerry’s work extended to opening the Islands region of PNG, where they served for 22 years, loving and leading many new missionaries (and their children) who were arriving on the field and working among different people groups, impacting countless lives.

Jeraldine’s story is one of unwavering faith—through personal loss, cultural challenges, and physical hardship—always trusting God’s purposes and plan. Jerry served a total of 49 years in Papua New Guinea.

She is remembered for her courage, her love for God’s Word, her dedication to any task at hand, and her encouragement to all that “God uses ordinary people for His glory.” Her legacy lives on in the vibrant Hamtai churches and in the hearts of those she inspired to love and serve God.

The message she wanted to leave is: "God always has a purpose for each life. God always has some purpose He wants to accomplish, not with what people have, but what He has! This is what I want others to remember. You don't have to have anything or be anything. God wants to use you for what He has purposed for you."

Jerry was pre-deceased by her husband, Ted Fitzgerald, and is survived by her children: Sandra, Sharon, and Dan; 9 grandchildren: Trevor, Nicole, Jason, Sarah, Mavrick, Jaiden, Rylee, Mesa, and Coben; and 4 great-grandchildren: Collin, Elaina, Alice, and Neil. And many other nieces and nephews and relatives.

In lieu of flowers or plants, please make memorial donations to the ongoing Mamusi outreach in Papua New Guinea by calling 407-547-2345, ask to be transferred to the finance office, and explain that you would like to donate to account:  "PNG - #473 Mamusi (Bili)" for Jerry Fitzgerald's Memorial.

Link to video of Memorial:

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/gnOklXkOHTZ1vR4dYvMCUafLAshhXAHdfpzKe7YUZUa2rJZP17qeg2tM9bQ-4wNW.ONUCJsWWsAa1Gb1P?from=hub

Passcode: 4yj5?Je=