Penelope Fernandez

We gather in remembrance of a remarkable young soul, our cherished daughter, whose life was a tapestry of courage woven with threads of joy. She was a heart warrior, a beacon of resilience, and a source of endless love.

Her journey was marked by the courage of a lioness. She endured multiple heart surgeries and embraced a new lease on life when she received the ultimate gift of a heart transplant on her third birthday. Each heartbeat was a drum of victory in her symphony of survival. Not only did she face cardiac challenges, she also bravely battled kidney failure. Through the trials of dialysis, she showed us what true strength looks like, never losing her spark or her will to fight.

Her sassiness was legendary. With a quick side-eye, she could express a universe of thoughts, her personality shining through every glance.

She found joy in the simplest things. From the cheerful squeaks of her rubber duckies, her yellow wooden block of cheese to her green chili pepper that she loved to feed her lion bag. The catchy tune of “baby shark” filled our room. She danced and belly laughed creating memories that will forever echo in our hearts. In the world of imagination, she found a kindred spirit in Bluey, sharing in the adventures while waving her arms in the air as she was running alongside them. A curious explorer of the cosmos, she marveled at the planets always having a YouTube planet song on repeat for hours on end. Perhaps she now dances among the stars, her spirit forever intertwined within the moons and the galaxies.

Her legacy will continue to inspire us all as she taught so many people along the way. We would like to take this time and thank the wonderful staff at Texas Children's Hospital. The staff’s professionalism and empathy went beyond our expectations, and it was evident that Penny was not just a patient to you, but a person you truly cared about. The warmth and patience you displayed, over two years, helped ease our worries and allowed us to focus on spending precious moments together. Lastly, to Children’s Transplant Initiative (CTI) thank you for providing a home away from home for the past two years. Your wonderful organization made life in Houston so much better.

Our little girl, our shining star, Penny, you are loved beyond measure and missed beyond words.

Penny is survived by her parents: Rochelle Azua and Efren F. Fernandez, grandparents: Benito and Raquel Azua, Efren and Lucila Fernandez, aunts and uncles: Benito Jr. and Kristy Azua, Jaime and Corina Galvan, and her two cousins: Benito (Trey) III and Sabrina Azua.

Honored to serve as pallbearers: Efren F. Fernandez, Benito Azua Jr., Benito (Trey) Azua III, and Jaime Galvan

A visitation for Penelope will be held Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Grace Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 26873 N. White Ranch Road, La Feria, Texas 78559. A chapel service will occur Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. followed by burial at 2:00 p.m. at Heavenly Grace Memorial Park, 26873 N. White Ranch Road, La Feria, Texas 78559.