Obituary of Maria M. Fernandes

Life is a journey they say, well for Maria it certainly was. Right from the beginning of Maria's life, Maria's Mom Kitty and Father Eulogio who were born in Gibraltar and Married. Kitty's Grandmother was born in Genoa Italy and Eulogio's Father was born Malta. They decided to travel and move to the USA and landed in NYC and start a new life. Maria was born an only child, soon the apple of their eye grew into a young lady. She had a high IQ and did very well with schoolwork. Then entered FIT Fashion Design Institute and dabbled in Julliard School of Music. Maria dressed to the 9's, drove a car and worked in Fashion design. Maria was a kind, loving, soft spoken and classy woman, who was independent ahead of her times. She was deeply devoted to Jesus and the Blessed Mother. Her Faith was extraordinary. One day Maria went and met her girlfriend Violet who was Portuguese. There she met her Uncle Joe. Joe said to Maria Do you have a boyfriend Maria said no. Joe proceeded to take out a little book (early internet) with pictures of young men and a snippet about them. So, Maria picked a man named John Fernandes. Then Joe traveled back to Portugal and showed the book to John and John picked Maria. They wrote letters to each other and before not very long Kitty and Maria were on a Plane to Portugal to meet one another. within 6 weeks they were married in a Civil Portuguese marriage. Kitty and Maria came back to the USA and waited 3 months for John and now John was on a plane. Then married in Saint Dennis Church in Yonkers. Shortly after John realized he never asked Maria if she cooks or cleans, since all women in those days in Portugal did cook and clean. But thanks to God, he gave her 4 daughters. Maria had a wonderful life and never worried. She taught sewing classes for years. Maria was a wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother to 4 grandchildren and Great grand Mother to 6 great-grand daughters. She will truly be missed! So, love never dies, it lives and goes on forever... With Maria, God threw away the mold when he made Maria a one-of-a-kind Woman.