AUDIO: Funeral Service for Mitchell Fitzgerald - Wednesday February 14, 2024
View the Funeral Bulletin for Mitchell Fitzgerald
Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday February 14, 2024
(Readings start at 6:30, Sermon starts at 11:20)
First Reading -- Psalm 118:1-9
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me free.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
Second Reading -- Ephesians 2:1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Third Reading -- Matthew 6:25–33
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
The Gospel of Mark 5:1-20
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.
The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
We Mourn the Loss of Mitchell Fitzgerald
Age 27, of Peters Township, on February 7, 2024. Beloved and cherished son of Timothy A. and Jodi L. (Herschaft) Fitzgerald; loving brother of Timothy E. (Kami L.) Fitzgerald, Jared M. Fitzgerald, and Jennifer J. Fitzgerald; proud uncle of Timothy E. Fitzgerald; adored grandson of Alice J. and the late Lawrence J. Fitzgerald, and the late Victor and Jacqueline Herschaft; great nephew of the late Albert Hatala and Etta and John Meehan; also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Mitchell was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church; he loved the Lord and sought to bring others to faith. He was a graduate of Peters Township high school, where he excelled as a wrestler and football player. He went on to study at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, where he continued to wrestle. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the California University of PA, with a 4.0 GPA. Mitchell served as a combat engineer in the U.S Army Reserve with the 420th Engineer Company in Indiana, PA. He was a counselor, a coach, and a soldier. Mitchell was a talented musician, he enjoyed playing the keyboard and singing. He was a lover of all sports including but not limited to football, wrestling, skateboarding, snowboarding, hockey, boxing, MMA, riding and racing dirt bikes, and more. Mitchell was a protector, a guardian, and a warrior. He was the guy who would stick up for anyone and give you the shirt off his back. He was a little stubborn, but he was also kind, smart, dependable, and had a great work ethic. He loved to make people laugh. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Family and friends received on Tuesday from 3-8 PM at the Warchol Funeral Home Inc., 3060 Washington Pike, Bridgeville (412.221.3333). A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, Bridgeville. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the Gary Sinise Foundation.
