Marcela Fernandez Buada

Marcela “Nanay” Fernandez Buada passed away on Friday, June 18, 2021 in San Diego, CA at the age of 95. She was born on July 25, 1925 in Batakil, Pozorrubio. Marcela was the 2nd eldest daughter of Casimero Fernandez and Eufemia Calizo and is the last surviving sibling. She attended Pozorrubio Central School, but because of start of World War II, Nanay was unable to finish high School. From 1953 to 1959 she assisted her husband Zosimo on their poultry farm in Pozorrubio. From 1960 to 1984 while her husband Zosimo took care of farming planting crops by season to include tobacco, rice, cotton, and various vegetables. She took care of the 7 children while Zosimo was working. Cooking, cleaning, babysitting, feeding, nurturing all the children by herself. Making sure all the children were bathed, clothed, feed, and attending school.

Marcela married Zosimo Datario Buada on January 19, 1946 and is survived by their 7 children (Demetrio(deceased), Delfin, Digna, Delicia, Dante, Daisylyn, Darilou), 18 Grandchildren, 25 Great Grandchildren, and 1 Great Great Grandchild.

One of her crowning moments, on April 20, 1940 she was elected Her Majesty Queen Penay in Batakil, Pozorrubio Pangasinan. She led the way with her beauty and confidence over all the other candidates.

Since 1976, Nanay has been a member of the Oneness Pentecostal Church and helped found, alongside her Husband Zosimo, the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Batakil with long-time friend, Rev. Carlos Grant. Having met during World War II, Rev. Grant retired from the U.S. Army and returned to Batakil, Pozorrubio to bring the Apostolic truth to the province. With the two pieces of land donated by Zosimo, her husband, Rev Grant helped establish the First Apostolic Pentecostal Church, and shortly thereafter a second church. Both are located in Batakil, Pozorrubio Pangasinan.

Marcela arrived in San Diego, CA in 1984 and been an active member of the South Bay United Pentecostal Church and finished at Hilltop Tabernacle Apostolic Pentecostal Church. Friends and family remember her as a strong but silent, and stronger in her faith. While living out her years in the United States, she used expertise and loving kindness to love and take care of other children and her own grandchildren.

She will be dearly missed by all her family, friends, and relatives in the Philippines, San Diego, and abroad.