Mary Jane Fizer

Mary Jane Fizer, 87, of Woodbridge, Virginia, died June 30, 2023, at Potomac Place assisted living in Woodbridge. Many thanks to the nurses and staff at Potomac Place for their tender love and care. Fizer was a devoted wife, caring mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, who welcomed everyone into her home. How do you aptly describe what a wonderful cook and baker she was? She loved to cook, cross stitch, and sew quilts and baby blankets. Originally from Crumpler, West Virginia, she and her husband, Harry (Junior), moved to Alexandria, Virginia, a year after receiving her bachelor’s teaching degree from Concord College. They moved to Woodbridge in 1961. Fizer taught primarily first grade for over 47 years. She earned her Master in Education from George Mason University, while working full-time and raising three children. Her love of teaching did not stop after school hours. She continued educating others in retirement, tutoring neighborhood children and helping them master reading, even if English was not their first language. Her enthusiasm and love of empowering others through education were always a joy to see. She also published a memoir with stories from her teaching days, “Mommy Couldn’t Find Her Eyelashes: Forty-Four Years in First Grade.” She was a founding member of Cokesbury United Methodist Church where she played the organ and piano every Sunday for over forty years, taught Sunday school and vacation bible school, and participated on many committees such as United Methodist Women and the finance committee. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Harry Elmer Fizer, Jr.; parents, Frank Otey and Minnie Otey Hamm; sister, Linda Anderson; and brother, Frankie Otey. Fizer is survived by her daughter Karen Bilak Swann (Mike) of Centreville, son Tim Fizer (Queta) of Woodbridge; and daughter Tina Sullivan (Shane) of Herndon; grandchildren Rylie and Olivia Sullivan; and brother, Tommy Otey (Gaye) of Statesville, North Carolina. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 19 at 2 pm at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 14806 Blackburn Rd, Woodbridge. In lieu of flowers donations to The Mary Jane Fizer Scholarship Fund can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/mary-jane-fizer-scholarship or you may mail a check to: The Mary Jane Fizer Scholarship Fund, c/o Tina Sullivan, 12733 Builders Road, Herndon, VA 20170-2931.

Tributes

Mary Jane Fizer

June 30, 2023