Radames "Ray" Fernandez

Ray Fernandez, 88, died from respiratory complications on Sunday, April 3, 2022.  He was born on August 28, 1933 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.  Ray moved from Ponce to New York to join family.  It is here where he met his beautiful future wife, Iris Velez.  They married in 1960.  They began to raise their family while Ray worked for the New York City Transit Authority.  He packed up his family to join his brothers and sisters in Hollywood Florida in 1974.  He first worked for Braniff International Airlines and eventually worked at Apollo Middle School maintenance until his retirement in 1999.  Ray is remembered for being the life of many celebrations, his detailed storytelling of his youth in Puerto Rico, his famous homemade coquito, his love of Puerto Rican music and his annual Christmas Eve pig roast, where ALL were always welcome!  Ray was a true Taino Boricua until the very end of his generous life. 

Ray is survived by daughters, Vivian Canaday and her husband Chuck of Lutz, Judy Diggs of Plantation, Emmy Stillwell and her husband John Stillwell of Hollywood, his grandchildren, Forrest Canaday, Kaitlyn Stillwell, Natalia Diggs, Kristen Stillwell and Noah Canaday and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 38 years, Iris Fernandez.

Service details:  Viewing & visitation will be held on Thursday, April 7th at Fred Hunter Funeral Home Hollywood from 5-9 (refreshments will be provided).  A Catholic funeral mass will be held on Friday, April 8th at St. Stephens Catholic church at 2PM  2000 S State Road 7.  Burial will follow at Fred Hunter’s Hollywood Memorial Gardens North 3001 N. 72nd Avenue