Margaret FitzZaland

On March 9, 2021, surrounded by family at home, our beautiful mother, Margaret FitzZaland, passed peacefully from this life into Heaven.  She was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 4, 1933 to John Joseph and Catherine McAllister.  Margaret first came to this country to work as a nanny for Norman Thomas who, at that time, was the presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. She loved this country so much, that when she returned to Ireland, she realized that the United States is where her heart belonged. She moved to New York, NY in 1958. It was there that she met the love of her life, John Raymond FitzZaland. They were married on August 4, 1959.
She was as committed to serving the US Navy as much as her husband. They were blessed with four children, and a lifestyle that took them from coast to coast.
In 1967, on their way from Louisville, KY to their home in Coronado, CA, their car broke down on Highway 66 in Sapulpa. Shortly after that, they learned that the belongings of their entire household were destroyed when the van carrying them caught fire just outside of Akron, Ohio.
By that time, they had fallen in love with the people, the land, and the spirit of Green Country. So they decide to let fate chose their new home.
Margaret worked at Liberty Glass Company for 26 years. After retiring at age 60, she spent years traveling, before deciding to take a position at Sapulpa High School, in order to be closer to her grandkids. She became well known as the “lunch lady” aka “Grandma” at SHS.
She truly loved and cared for everyone who came through her line. She left that position after 19 years in 2014 at the age of 81. Margaret lived for her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.
She had the most wonderful advice and a great sense of humor.
She was the ideal grandmother who found joy in getting down on the floor to play any game; sharing her love for tea parties; and encouraging the dreams of all her grands.
She loved to travel. She made countless trips to: Alaska, California, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia.
In 1995, she returned to Ireland for an extended visit with her family.
Even long day trips “just driving” to no particular place fueled her sense of adventure.
Garage sales were not immune to her charms: they became her Saturday morning treasurer hunts.
Margaret had friends from all walks of life. She never met a stranger. It’s touching to know the impact that she had on so many people. She was preceded in death by her husband, John FitzZaland, in 1984;
her parents, John and Catherine McAllister; her siblings; Sammy McAllister, Patrick McAllister, Jimmy McAllister, Annie Corey, Mary Catney, Therese O’Hare and infant sister Kathleen McAllister, all in Ireland.She is survived by her children, Therese Foley (Alaska), Karen Klaus (Broken Arrow), Kelly Bowman (Sapulpa) and John FitzZaland (Sapulpa); her grandchildren: Gordon Foley, Quentin Foley, and Emma Foley (Alaska), Katie Klaus, (Bixby), Dalton FitzZaland (Sapulpa), and her great grandchildren, Layla Klaus, Oliver Schneeberger and Theodore FitzZaland.Arrangements are with Smith Funeral home in Sapulpa, Ok. The viewing will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2021, from 5-7 at Smith Funeral Home, followed by a Rosary at 6 pm in the chapel.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on March 15, 2021,  at 2pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
1777 E Grayson Avenue, Sapulpa, OK. Father Louis Obirieze, presiding.
Following the service, she will be honored with the City of Tulsa’s Bagpipe and Drum band who will be playing favorite Irish melodies at her internment in Greenhill Memorial Gardens.