Pacita C Fernando

Pacita Camaganacan Fernando, age 82, was both born into this world and passed away on Palm Sunday. We believe Pacita’s birth into our earthly and heavenly worlds isn’t just by coincidence; her original birth name (“La Paz”) is not only significant for peace but for “palaspas,” the Tagalog term referring to the palm fronds used by the people who welcomed Jesus in Gethsemane on Palm Sunday. Pacita’s timely passing at the beginning of Holy Week gave comfort and solace to family members and was a good reminder that through Jesus’ death she would rise to Eternal life with Him.

Surrounded by close family members, Pacita passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 2, 2023 from liver complications and liver/blood cancers. She was born March 29, 1941 in Cavite City, Philippines to Juan and Peregrina Camaganacan. She married her long time best friend and love, Augusto Poblete Fernando, in June of 1964 and would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary this year.

Pacita, or affectionately known as Pacing to many of her family and friends, loved to love on people. She was a gentle, sweet, and giving soul, constantly lending a helping hand to immediate and extended family, never expecting anything in return. She sent balikbayan boxes often to family members back home in the Philippines. She also shared her love with food such as pecan pies, leche flan, puto bong bong, ginataan, and other Filipino dish specialities with family and close friends. Pacing, along with her beloved husband Ostoy, loved to garden and shared this love by sharing their abundance of fruits (ie, calamansi, guavas, dragonfruits, loquats, cherimoyas, papayas, and more) to family, friends, and neighbors.

For several years, Pacing worked as a Cosmetologist, starting her own small beauty shop in the Philippines when she was only 18 years old and then worked in several hair salons throughout San Diego. Eventually she established her own home-based beauty salon to which she continued to serve clients until recently. Pacing truly had a servant heart and in her later years provided home health services to local seniors in need. Her “suki” were not just clients of hers but they became life long friends whom she always talked fondly of.

Pacing came from very humble beginnings and while she dreamt of going to college as a little girl her family did not have the financial means. She was the youngest of six children and the the only surviving daughter of the family. Nevertheless she never let go of her dream and after having 4 children she decided to go back to Cosmetology school at nights to finish her certification back in the late 1980s.

Pacing always made sure her four children, Alvin, Arleen, Alicia, and Annalisa understood the value of an education and the opportunities it would provide. There was never a question of whether her children would go…only a question of where and when. She was so proud of all her children who graduated from great universities because they embodied all the hopes and dreams that were never afforded to her.

Pacing is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Augusto Poblete Fernando; her son Alvin Camaganacan Fernando; her three daughters and son-in-laws Arleen Camaganacan Fernando, Alicia Jane Caneday and Scott Caneday, and Dr. Annalisa Fernando-Langit and Dexter Langit; her six grandchildren Austin Luis Fernando, Thomas Fernando Caneday, Joshua David Caneday, Alyssa Silverthorne, Deanna Fernando Langit, and Angelo Dean Langit; plus many nephews and nieces. All of these she loved and touched deeply.

Pacing cared deeply, loved fiercely, remained loyal to those she loved and never forgot where she came from, always giving more than she had so that everyone had a more comfortable life or fighting chance.

Mahal kita Mommy. We all love you more than you know. 💕