Jo Anne C. Fitzgerald

Jo Anne Christine Fitzgerald, age 65, a long-time resident of Dracut, formerly of Long Island, NY, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

Jo Anne was born on Long Island, NY on February 22, 1957, and was the daughter of the late Edward J. And Miriam (Hutchinson) Fitzgerald.

Jo Anne spent her childhood years living in New York and moved to Dracut during high school years. She graduated from Dracut High School with the class of 1975. Jo Anne then went on to attend Northern Essex Community College.

Jo Anne was an incredible cook, always making enough food to feed a small army. She was a news fanatic, a comedy and music lover who was fortunate enough to make a career that included these passions. She had a brilliant mind, a wicked sense of humor, was quick witted and sarcastic to the core. Jo Anne was a wild child at heart. Her happy place was on the beaches of Cape Cod. Jo Anne also loved the many cats (Figaro, Freddie, Spaz and Bandit) she owned over the years.

Throughout her working career, Jo Anne wore many hats but the one she was most proud of was her time at WBCN in Boston working for Charles Laquidara and being part of Boston’s BIGGEST morning show, “The Big Mattress.” Jo Anne was part of the comedy team that wrote for WBCN and is responsible for the creation of such popular and memorable skits “Ask Bess”/Young Advice For Young Adults, Poor Mrs. Fletcher, Freakin’ Ford, Andrea Bitchell/Chief White House News Correspondent and many, many more.

Jo Anne is survived by her two sons, Nicholas Cote and his significant other Stefanie Eldridge of Lowell and Patrick Cote and his wife Christine of Pepperell; her two granddaughters, Kaili and Avery; her three grandsons, Gage, Rylan and Mason; her great-granddaughter, Juliette; her two sisters, Ellen Tetu and her husband Bob of Pennsylvania and Gerry Fitzgerald Laudani of Long Island, NY; as well as many nieces and a nephew. She is also survived by her life-long friend, Robin (Lowe) Lemons.

Relatives and friends are invited to Jo Anne’s Life Celebration on Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 2 until 6 PM at the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street, Lowell.