FIONA JANE ARRIZZA
FIONA JANE ARRIZZA
Born: Gawler, SA Australia, 12-18-1970
Passed: LeClaire, IA, USA 05-08-2024
A life and story that should be shared; an inspiration to all who knew her. Fiona was a magnet, distinguished by her strong physique, resilient spirit, and meaningful tattoos that often sparked engaging conversations; quickly revealing the kind and caring person beneath. She proved to be a mentor who led by example, not boasting about what she could do but instead jumping straight into action. Fiona lived by the verse tattooed on her arm: “Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Embracing this adventurous spirit, she loved to travel, especially to Scotland and Italy where she was cherished by her extended family. Fiona would encourage others to believe in their abilities and aspirations and took joy in seeing them achieve. Though she was oblivious to it, she possessed great power in the way she inspired others.
Fiona was a tenacious firefighter, Ironwoman, marathon runner and ultra marathon runner. She was also a talented musician, playing trumpet in school band and bagpipes in her hometown pipe and drum band. She held her profession close to her heart, believing deeply in the purpose and impact of her work as an East Moline Firefighter. From the beginning of recruitment, Fiona demonstrated her strength, proving to be more than worthy of the honorary title. She dedicated 25 years of her life to the fire department, leaving behind a legacy of achievement and service. Fiona was awarded the Medal of Bravery for her significant role in rescuing a young boy. She authored Who’s Under There? an educational children’s book on fire safety, widely used in schools, daycares, and public outreach events. Additionally, she developed and regularly presented fire safety programs targeted toward seniors in high-rise and assisted living communities, to effectively spread her life-saving message.
In her early years in America, Fiona and her friend Shannon rode push bikes all the way from St. Joseph, MN, to San Francisco, CA, to support the Jacob Wetterling Foundation. Along the way, they stopped at schools to raise awareness about missing children, assisting the foundation. Her dedication to challenging herself didn’t stop there. A keen runner, Fiona completed over a dozen marathons and many ultra marathons. Fiona also returned to Australia multiple times to not only compete in various Ironman events, but most importantly to see her family who cherished each and every time she would visit.
Born in Gawler, South Australia, Fiona was the youngest and only daughter out of four to Mary (born in Scotland) and Camillo (born in Italy). Growing up on 10 acres Fiona had a fantastic childhood. From playing in the creek to climbing trees and riding motorbikes, she was always determined to prove she could do anything her brothers (David, Anthony and Stephen) could. After completing her teaching degree, she decided to apply for a counseling position at a summer camp in Iowa USA, where she met her husband, Shane. She returned two more times to work at the camp before Shane followed her back home to Australia, where they got married. Returning to Iowa together, they made many friends and created a wonderful life. Fiona would like to be remembered simply as a daughter, wife, sister, aunt and friend. But she was so much more than what she humbly described. Her presence left an undeniable mark on the communities she entered and hearts of the people she met. She will be forever loved and remembered; a huge debt of gratitude is owed for having Fiona in this world. While you may not have known Fiona, her husband and family want to share her story and the lives she touched and influenced.
