Gail M. (Fitzpatrick) Shields, 79, of Bristol, passed away Thursday, March 5th, 2015, at home, peacefully surrounded by her family. She was the loving wife of the late John "Jack" J. Shields and former wife of the late Rudolph T. De Marco. Born in Newton, MA, she was the daughter of the late William and Helena (Murphy) Fitzpatrick. Gail was a member of the second graduating class of Archbishop Junior College. She resided in Newton, MA, until 1957 when she married Rudy and relocated to Southern California. She returned to college in 1967 and graduated with a degree in Art History from California State University Northridge. Gail was, professionally, quite successful and admired by her colleagues. She was promoted, in 1980, to Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Harshaw Chemical Company, selling industrial pigments, and relocated to Jamestown, RI. A trailblazer for women in business, she was the only female sales representative in the industry at the time, became a mentor to other women who followed her and would soon become the first woman president of The New England Coatings Association. In 1990, Gail joined Heucotech, a German pigment manufacturer, as Eastern Sales Manager, and traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and India. She retired in 2000 and spent the next six years exploring the world with her beloved Jack. Gail was a woman of great faith and a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol. She was a voracious reader, avid gardener and enthusiastic scrapbooker. She also had a keen interest in genealogy and became her family's historian. Her research gave her a deep appreciation for her Irish ancestors as she discovered their reasons for immigrating as well as their struggles and triumphs in America. Gail was, above all, completely devoted to her family. She was the beloved mother of Edythe M. De Marco and her husband, Thomas Byrne, of Pawtucket, Lisa A. Lyons, of Bristol, Mary L. De Marco, of Burke, Virginia, stepmother of Kathleen Shields and her husband, Jay Spitzenberger, of Indianapolis, IN, Michael Shields and his wife Pamela, of Plymouth, MA, and Lori Shields McDevitt and her husband, Timothy McDevitt, of Yardley, PA. She was the loving sister of Brian Fitzpatrick and his wife Susan, of Red Hook, NY, and Joseph "Kerry" Fitzpatrick and his wife Karen, of Duxbury, MA. She also leaves sisters-in-law, Hellen Mullin, Mary-Ann Lafond, and Susan McLean. She was the devoted grandmother of Zachary Lyons, Jordan Lyons, Lydia Lyons, Megan Tribble, Colin Tribble, Emma Byrne, Amanda Spitzenberger, Jeremy Spitzenberger, Riley Spitzenberger, Samantha Shields, Monica Shields and Brady McDevitt. She also leaves many beloved nieces and nephews. Arrangements are with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Rd, Warren, where family will receive friends on Friday March 13, 2015 from 4pm - 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday March 14, 2015 at 10am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State Street, Bristol. Burial will be private.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, Boston, 637 Cambridge St., Brighton, MA 02135 , Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bristol, and/or Gentiva Hospice, 2374 Post Road, Unit 206, Warwick, RI 02886. wjsmithfh.com