following a near six year long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, at the age of 61.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Saint John the Baptist
Catholic Church in Costa Mesa from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
She was born on June 27, 1957 to Frank and Thelma Fernandez, as the third of nine
children. She graduated from Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Missouri and
worked her way up to become a well-respected 40 year long employee at Macy’s and formerly
May Company. From active participation at work with the Second Harvest Food Bank to Susan
G. Komen, Dee continuously used her position and standing to do great things for her
community. She had a wide net of philanthropic work, from Hurricane Katrina assistance to
helping a friend in need. This led many to describe her as a hero, role model, and living saint
because of her empathy and compassion. She made everyone a part of her life, in the best way
possible, just to make someone feel special.
The perfect image of Dee saw her with a camera in her hand and a beautiful smile on her
face. Photography functioned as a means of capturing the most beautiful moments in her life.
Dee loved to travel and live life to the fullest, specifically to her favorite place in the world:
Maui. Dee strived to end each day in pursuit of chasing down the best sunset that she could lay
her eyes on.
However, Dee’s true legacy lies with her family, eight brothers and sisters, 9 brothers and
sister in laws and twenty seven nieces and nephews. Known to all in the Fernandez family as
everyone’s favorite sister and aunt, Dee’s selfless love for her family always came first in her
life. She loved all around her unconditionally. May Dee rest in peace for eternity as we hold her
in hearts and in our prayers.
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