Barbara J. Fernandez

Barbara Joyce Fernandez, 89, of Danbury, CT passed away in the early morning hours of April 5, 2024. Though small in stature, she was a force of nature who moved mountains to care for those whom she loved. Her love and nurturing of all she encountered made her, “Mom”, “Aunty” and “Nana” to many in her life.

Barbara was born August 13,1934 in Bombay, India. She was the eighth of ten children born to Eardley and Edith Rozario. The brothers passed many years ago, however the Rozario sisters remained strongly bonded into their adult lives. She is survived by two of her four sisters: Myrtle Davidson and Rosalind Crabb and predeceased by Christina Fernandez and Georgina Abba. Barbara married Desmond Paul Fernandez on November 19,1955. They remained together 52 years, until his passing in 2008.

Barbara’s love extended to her six children: Linda (Ronald) Field, Dirk Fernandez, Clyde (Amanda) Fernandez, Verna (James) Peterson, Blaise Fernandez, and Gayle (Timothy) Fernandez-Cooper. Her grandchildren: Dawn and Keith Bucciarelli, Brieanna Hamel, Brittany Fernandez, Skylar Monoceros, Katie Fernandez, Brandon Cooper, Deryck Fernandez, Zane Silva, Eavyn Fernandez, Zoe Peterson and Aralyn Cooper will remember their Nana as the glue that held us tight and planted their roots deeply.

Barbara remained an active participant in the St. Joseph’s Rosary Society and the New Fairfield Senior Center. She enjoyed scratch offs, fiercely competitive card games and trips to the casino. Her talents in the kitchen were well known. She crafted, often giving her creations to acquaintances and friends alike, but her greatest creation was her family - gathering, laughing, and joking with our matriarch watching over the legacy she would leave. The tapestry she and Desmond beautifully made, each of their brood finding pieces of “Babs and Des” woven into them be it art, food, music, craftmanship or hard-working hands.

Barbara Joyce Fernandez’s life was a life well lived through adversity and hardship, losses and triumphs her love remained unrelenting. Her voice will echo in our heads and hearts as we make our way forward. Each life she touched was enriched by her presence and sorrowed by her loss.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at St. Joseph Church, Danbury with the Rev. Samuel V. Scott, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.

Friends will be received from 5:00pm - 8:00pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury.