Former Hilton boss Fitzgerald’s wife dies

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1998 | 11:02 a.m.

Services for Mary Fitzgerald, wife of the former president of the Las Vegas Hilton, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

Fitzgerald, 68, died Sunday following a long illness.

Visitation is Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Road.

Though Fitzgerald was a registered nurse, and was employed for a time at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mass., her greatest work and pride was in rearing a family of three sons.

After John Fitzgerald retired, he and his wife, whose favorite pastime was bridge, traveled extensively around the world.

"She was a fun-loving person who had lots of friends," said her son, Mark.

Survivors include her husband of 46 years, John, who retired in 1993 after 40 years with the Hilton Corp.

She also is survived by two sons, Mark of Phoenix, and Eric of Las Vegas; a brother, Thomas Hogan of New York City; and seven grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one son, John Fitzgerald III, who died in 1993 at the age of 33.

The family requests that donations be made to the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church School Building Fund or to the Nathan Adelson Hospice, where she died of cancer after a brief stay.