Elsie Josephine Fernandez

She was born in Ignacio, CO on June 16, 1935 and lived there until she married Joe on April 14, 1958. She immediately became a US Air Force wife and traveled with her husband all over the world, welcoming three children along the way.

She was often employed wherever they were stationed, most often in bookkeeping, accounting, banking, and lending. Following Joe’s retirement from the USAF in 1977, the family settled in Chandler, AZ where she was employed as a mortgage loan office for ICM until her retirement in 1996.

In addition to her husband, she leaves behind her children; Elaine (Brad) Morse, Linda (Larry) Schemmel and Jim (Teresa) Fernandez as well as 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Manuel and Benerita Santistevan and brothers Manuel, Joe and Tony Santistevan.

A celebration of life will be held for Elsie on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Valley of the Sun Mortuary, 10940 East Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ 85248. A visitation will be held at 10:00 am, followed by a funeral service at noon. Directly after services, a reception in Elsie's honor will be held in the Oakwood Room at Valley of the Sun Mortuary.