Lydia Fernandes

Mrs. Lydia Fernandes peacefully went home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Lydia was born on August 4, 1944 in Karachi, Pakistan to Joseph Mendes and Sebastiana Fernandes, the middle of their five children. As a child, she distinguished herself in school and received special recognition in public speaking and theatrical performances. She graduated from St. Joseph's College in Karachi with a Bachelor's degree in Education.

In 1969 she married the love of her life, Vincent Fernandes. They had one daughter, Janice, before moving away from their homeland to Kuwait. Later they were blessed with two sons, Jude and Desmond. Lydia was a well-respected teacher at schools in Pakistan and Kuwait. She valued higher education and encouraged her daughter to enroll as an international student at the University of Texas at Austin. Not long after that, Lydia had to leave Kuwait with her husband and sons during the 1990 Iraqi invasion. They stayed in a refugee camp in Jordan for a few weeks until they were able to return to Pakistan. In 1993, Lydia immigrated to the United States with her family and called Dallas her home for over 20 years. She returned to college in Texas in order to become a Certified Teacher. She taught English as a Second Language (ESL) at Heather Glen Elementary in Garland. She was a devoted educator and was named Teacher of the Year at her school. She enthusiastically worked with refugees and also taught English at night to adults. In 2002, she was proud to become a U.S. Citizen. Lydia loved to travel and made a couple of trips with her husband and son (Desmond) to Europe. She especially enjoyed any opportunity to visit family and friends in Pakistan, India, Canada and California.

After Vincent passed away unexpectedly in 2014, Lydia moved to Montana to live with her son, Jude. Her health was starting to decline, but she continued to make trips with Jude and family to Kalispell, Helena, Billings, Bozeman and Colorado Springs. In November 2015, Lydia moved to Buckner Villas nursing home in Austin to receive skilled nursing care and be closer to her daughter (Janice). She lived at Buckner Villas until the time of her passing, made many friends, and welcomed numerous visitors.

Lydia will be remembered for her event planning, hospitality and love of people. She organized New Year's Eve programs, Scrabble and Carrom tournaments, school and church functions, and dinner parties for people of all ages and walks of life. As a woman of faith, she served as a Lector and taught Catechism to children in Pakistan, Kuwait and Texas.

Lydia was met in Heaven by her husband, her parents and her sister, Christine. Her life and legacy will continue to be remembered, honored and celebrated by her children, Janice and her husband Nick Jackson of Austin, TX; Jude Fernandes and his wife Kim of Berthoud, CO; and Desmond Fernandes of Amarillo, TX; her grandchildren: Astrid, Grace and Gabriella; and her sisters: Thecla and Abbey of Canada and brother Louis of Euless, TX. She will be missed dearly by many more family, friends, and those whose lives she touched around the globe.

A Rosary Service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on December 4, 2016 at Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home, 1111 Military Pkwy., Mesquite. A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on December 5, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 600 S. Jupiter Rd., Richardson. Inurnment will be at St. Joseph's Columbarium immediately after the funeral Mass, with a reception to follow.

Contributions in memory of Lydia may be made to CurePSP, a non-profit organization working to cure and improve awareness of neurodegenerative diseases such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

CurePSP

404 Fifth Avenue

3rd Floor

New York, NY 10018

http://www.psp.org/donate/

The family would like to thank the dedicated doctors, staff, and volunteers at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT; Hospice Austin, Buckner Hospice and Buckner Villas in Austin, TX. Many thanks also to all of the wonderful friends, caregivers and ministers who helped bring joy and comfort in Lydia's final years.