Mary Fernandez

Mary attended the University of Havana and the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba where she received her degree in Christian Education. In 1968, she immigrated to the United States, and lived in Toms River, NJ, where her husband became the Associate Minister of the Presbyterian Church. On January 24, 1975 she, her husband, and son became proud citizens of the United States of America.

In 1983, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona when her husband became the Minister of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church. In Toms River, as in Phoenix, she was active in the Church and in the community. In Toms River she worked for the Ocean County Welfare as a Bilingual Case Worker and in Phoenix as a Case Worker for Child Protective Services until retirement in 1992. In 1998 she and her husband retired in Sarasota and both became active with the Pine Shores Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, the Rev. Dr. David E. Fernandez, her son, David R. Fernandez, and wife Louise Fernandez, of Greenwood, SC; Sisters Josefine Haza of Whittier, CA; Rita Rubio of Melbourne, FL; and Bertha Mendizabal of Beavercreek, OH. She is also survived by, nieces and nephew Emerson Rubio, Bee Lemmer, and Brenda Mendizabal, and caregivers Jacki Roy, Diane McGee and Stacey Annucci.

She is predeceased by her parents, Maria and Jesus Haza, brother Gonzalo Haza and grandson Mason.

A memorial Service will be held at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, 6116 Crestwood Avenue, Sarasota, Florida on Saturday January 18, 2020 at 11:00 am.