Luella "Dickie" Fitzgerald, 81, died March 30, 2011, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born Jan. 31, 1930, in Wright, to Julius H. and Gladys G. Schmidt Mueller. She graduated from St. Teresa High School in 1948. She and her family have been the owner/operators of the Pic-Quik Stores. She was a member of Church of the Holy Cross, Soroptomist Club, Little Flower Circle and Holy Cross Altar Society.

Luella, a.k.a. Dickie, a longtime resident of Hutchinson, was matriarch, friend, neighbor and inspiration to all whose lives she was a part of and touched. Among her many attributes was the desire to put her faith and the well being of others first. Many have described her with these words: Promoter, Protector, Agitator, Negotiator, Encourager, Benefactor, Motivator, Galvanizer, Instigator, Arbitrator, Participator, Pontificator, Reciprocator, Perpetuator, Comforter, Supporter and Advocate.

On April 27, 1957, she married Edward Fitzgerald in Hutchinson. He survives. Other survivors include: sons, Marc, Husum, Wash., and Barry and wife, Debbie, Superior, Colo.; a daughter, Debbie Fast and husband, Dan, Hutchinson; brothers, Duane Mueller, Dodge City, Jerry Mueller, Hutchinson, Harold Mueller, Overland Park, Tom Mueller, Las Vegas, Nev., and Ken Mueller, Scottsdale, Ariz.; sisters, Vivian Weigel, Hutchinson, Jeanie Jones, Centralia, Wash., Mary Ellen Bishop, Hutchinson, Barbara Ann Warriner, Shawnee, Kan., and Janie Riggs, Lyons, Kan.; four grandchildren, Kelly Fast, Kansas City, Mo., Molly Simms and husband, Cody, Los Angeles, Calif., and Kelsey and Conner Fitzgerald, Superior, Colo.; and a great-grandchild, Veronica Lee Fast, Kansas City, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Rosary will be prior to the Mass at 10 a.m. Monday at Church of the Holy Cross. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2011, at Church of the Holy Cross, with Father Joseph Eckberg officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Reno County, Salt City "Faith and Light" (a group supporting people with disabilities that Dickie volunteered with) or Church of the Holy Cross, in care of the mortuary. To those of us who knew her as family and friend, she was one of the most compassionate, caring, loving, faith-filled beings to be a part of our lives. We are eternally grateful to have been a part of her life. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal message for Dickie's family