Carmen M. Fernandez

It is with great sadness and immense gratitude for her extraordinary life that we announce the passing of our mother Carmen Maria Fernandez. She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Friday, September 4th, at the age of 107 after finishing her ice-cream.

Carmen Maria Fernandez was born on December 21, 1918, to Altagracia Acevedo & Pedro Fernandez, in Islote, Puerto Rico. Carmen grew up smallAs a young child she attended her hometown school which only went up to fourth grade, she was unable to go beyond that because it would have meant to go live in city with strangers. Always embracing her culture and traditions, of other living authentically.

In 1936 she married Herman Alvarez and they had two children, Herman Alvarez Jr, and Ida Jean Alvarez. She widowed at the young age of 28 and due to the economic conditions of Puerto Rico migrated to the United States during the 1940’s diaspora. She saved enough money to send for her mother, two children and her sister. In 1958 she re-married Miguel Genova and gave birth to her youngest child Nancy Genova, while raising her children and Miguel’s children Carmen Genova-Martinez and Miguel Genova. As a result of her upbringing, she took great pride in her children, bonus children and grandchildren, great grandchildren’s including all her bonus grand & great educational achievements.

Her secret to longevity was her enthusiasm for life, pride in her family, and her passion for spirituality. Also, she never skipped dessert! The keeper of our history and out tradition as the matriarch of our family which she lovingly passed down to each of us.

She is pre-deceased by her spouses Miguel Genova and Herman Alvarez, her brothers and sisters: Pedro, Baldemar, Raquel Maria, Elsa Maria, and Sarah Maria Fernandez, her beloved cousins Ana, Letty & Yolanda Torres. And her son Herman Alvarez, Jr. and her son in law Ralph Greco. Her brother in law Jose (Chepo,) Pastoriza. Nephews Wilmer & Alberto Pastoriza.

She is survived by her daughters Ida Greco (Ralph,) Nancy Genova (Steve,) bonus children Miguel Genova, Jr (Rosie,) and Carmen Martinez (David,) grandsons Anthony Alvarez, Gabriel (Cristina,) & Nathaniel (Kelly,) Vasquez, granddaughters Maria Greco-Hughes (Eddie,) Diana Greco-DeMeglio (Tony,) great-granddaughters Alana (Tyler) & Katrina (Michael) Hughes, Elena & Natalia Vasquez, great-grandson’s Nicholas (Megan) & Christopher DeMeglio, Alejandro M, Mateo & Ryan Vasquez, grand cousins Abraham Gonzalez II (Christy,) Michelle Gonzalez and Miana Young along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Bonus grandchildren Johnny Martinez (Diane,) Michael, Camille, Robert Genova. Bonus great-grandchildren Thomas (Melissa,) Logan, Joey (Nyssa) & Lucas Martinez.

The family will receive visitors at Higgins Funeral Home, 321 S Main St, New City, NY 10956, on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 4-8pm.

There will be a mass on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 10am at St. Johns Roman Catholic Church, 895 Piermont Ave, Piermont, NY 10968. She will be entombed at the Garden of Memories Cemetery 300 Soldier Hill Rd, Township of Washington, NJ 07676.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to 100 Hispanic Women scholarship fund ensuring that a deserving Latina has access to a college education; https://100hispanicwomen.org/

“Everything begins and ends with family, life is a carnival”…..Carmen M. Fernandez.

Carmen loved pink, and the family suggests you wear something in pink to honor her.