David G. Fernandes, 91, of New Bedford, passed away peacefully Sunday February 26, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Brava, Cape Verde in 1920, the son of the late Jose and Eugenia (Duarte) Fernandes, he came to this country in 1936. He is survived by his wife, Gloria (Pina) Fernandes, to whom he was married for 66 years. He was the father of Patricia Vale of Fairhaven, Eugenia Sena and her husband Joao, whom he considered like a son, of Fairhaven, David G. Fernandes, Jr. of New Bedford and the late David G. Fernandes II. He was the grandfather of Peter Vale and his wife Dorinda, Jeffrey Vale and his wife Sandy, Jennifer Vale, John Sena, Jr., and Michael Sena, and great-grandfather of Isaac, DD, Addy, and PJ. He is also survived by his sister Regina Fernandes and brother-in-law Edward T. Pina, and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Antonio Fernandes and his wife Candida, Daniel Fernandes and his wife Anne, Luiza Fernandes, Justa Pires and her husband Joseph, and brother-in-law of the late Turibio Fernandes, Mary Pina, and Louis and Babe Pina.
Mr. Fernandes was retired from ExxonMobil where he worked for 35 years as a Chief Steward. He served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He was a member of the Exxon Annuitants Club, the Merchant Mariners Club and the American Legion. He was a devout Boston Red Sox fan.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11 AM at St. Lawrence Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.