Ziegler, Charlotte Fay Fitz-Gerald

Gifted Pianist Taught Piano For 20 Years At Cadek Conversatory

  • Friday, June 22, 2018

Affectionately known by most as "Aunt Fay," Charlotte Fay Fitz-Gerald Ziegler died on Wednesday evening, June 20, 2018, at her home on Lookout Mountain, midway through the 100th year of her life. Spring was her favorite time of the year, and she seemed content to spend her last day of spring on this earth before departing to join the communion of saints who worship on another shore and in a greater light.

Born in South Pittsburg, Tn., on November 26, 1918, she was the daughter of the late James Thomas Fitz-Gerald and his wife, Alice Elizabeth Jones Fitz-Gerald, and was the eldest of their family of eight children. Five brothers and two sisters preceded her in death: James Thomas Fitz-Gerald, Jr., Edward Arthur Fitz-Gerald, Robert Evan Fitz-Gerald, Michael Fitz-Gerald, Virginia Elizabeth Fitz-Gerald Rogers, Kathleen Fitz-Gerald Gullette, and Jere Scott Fitz-Gerald. She married John Ward Ziegler in 1950 and spent the next 50 years as his wife, until his death in November of 2000.

After completing school in South Pittsburg, she taught piano to work her way through college at the University of Chattanooga, graduating in 1946 as a piano major. A superb pianist, she was a student of the noted Dr. Harold Cadek, and later taught for over 20 years at the Cadek Conservatory. She also taught piano at the State School for the Blind in Raleigh, N.C.

A few years after her husband's death, she moved from Brainerd to Lookout Mountain to be closer to her grandniece, Dayna Eddy. During her years on the mountain, she enjoyed being a member of the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, the Outlook Club, the Fairyland Garden Club, and the Judge David Campbell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a former member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, where she played the piano in the waiting area for eight years. She loved flower gardening throughout her life, sharing that pleasure with a number of her nieces.

She is survived by her devoted grandniece and nephew, Dayna and Tom Eddy of Lookout Mountain, and her other nieces and nephews: Jim Fitz-Gerald, Doris Baron, Susan Thomas, Elizabeth Kelly, Virginia Klima, Jim Rogers, Bob Rogers, Lawson Gullette, Rick Gullette, Helen Bulman, Carol Cox, Earl Ziegler, Jr., Alan Ziegler, Tom Ziegler, Joe Ziegler, Charlene Lamar, Terry Ziegler, Janice Mauldin, and Gary Gross; a number of other great-nieces and great-nephews; two sisters-in-law, Bobbie Henry and Charlsie Fitz-Gerald; one first cousin, Dick Jones, and her added family, Tom's parents, Dick and Peggy Eddy.

The family thanks Hearth Hospice and the wonderful caregivers who made Aunt Fay's final weeks comfortable.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 25, with the Reverend Joe Novenson officiating; the family will receive friends for visitation there at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Chambliss Center for Children, 315 Gillespie Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37411, or to Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, 316 North Bragg Avenue, Lookout Mountain, Tn. 37350.

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