Published on May 27, 2025 4:12 pm
Last Updated on May 28, 2025 6:23 am
Grace Elizabeth Fitzwater, age 8, of Kinmundy, Illinois passed at 4:33 pm, Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri with her loving family by her side.
Grace was born on April 2, 2017 in Mount Vernon, Illinois the daughter of Jesse and Emilee (Walker) Fitzwater. Grace’s vibrant spirit touched everyone she knew. A spunky and joyful child, she filled the lives of her family and friends with laughter and love. Her passions were many, including playing the piano, attending church at the Kinmundy United Methodist Church, and participating in American Heritage Girls. However, her greatest joy was being the big sister to her brothers, Ridge and Otto, whom she adored. Her excitement for the arrival of a new sibling was palpable, a testament to the warmth and generosity of her heart.
Grace possessed a remarkable capacity for love and kindness. She was a bright light in the lives of those who knew her, and her memory will forever be treasured. She is now reunited in heaven with her Grandma Marilyn, Granny Mulvany, and Aunt Jessica, where we imagine her happily skating on her rollerblades, radiating the same joy she brought to this world.
Grace is survived by her parents: Jesse and Emilee Fitzwater of Kinmundy; brothers: Ridge and Otto Fitzwater; grandparents: Tony Walker of Iuka, Wes and Donna Fitzwater of Vandalia, Leon and Amy Thurman of Xenia, Jim and Rita Duncan of Salem; great-grandparents: Jerry and Penny Fitzwater of Salem, Vicki Donoho of Salem, Kay Sears of Flora; special aunts: Kacie (Grant) Lobek of Salem, Braxtin Walker of Austin, Texas, Alison (Jake) Kelly of Brownstown, Illinois; special uncles: Creed Bevalo (Tracy Lane) of Iuka, Rush (Leslie) Fitzwater of Rayville, Louisiana, Brennan (Lainey Detering) Fitzwater of New Athens, Illinois, Trevin Thurman of Bozeman, Montana; special cousins: Dalton, Kaedon, Lillian, Louis, Caydan, and Kelby; special pets: Copper and Amos; and many other cousins and friends.
A visitation will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Kinmundy United Methodist Church in Kinmundy from 4:00 pm, until all friends that want to pay their respects pass through. Memorials may be made to Grace’s family to help assist with medical expenses. Following visitation cremation rites will be accorded and a private family service will be held at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery, Kinmundy.
The McGriff Funeral Home in Kinmundy is honored to be entrusted with the family’s care and arrangements. To sign the guestbook online or share a memory or story of Grace, please visit
www.mcgriffandtriplettfh.com.