Welisarage M. Fernando
1961 – 2024
CHICOPEE – Welisarage M. “Kirul” Fernando, 63, of Chicopee, was Called Home on Sunday, August 11, 2024. He passed into Eternal Life at UMASS Memorial Medical Center in Worcester surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Ragama, Sri Lanka on June 7, 1961, a beloved son of the late Palis and Mildred (Silva) Fernando. Kirul, or “Fernando”, as he was adoringly called by so many, was devoted to being a loving and supportive husband and father, after losing his own father at a young age. In pursuit of a prosperous life for his children, he began working in the kitchen of an international ship in 1987, after marrying his beloved Deepthi, and welcoming their beautiful son, Kaween, in 1986, in Sri Lanka. This ship docked in Virginia on New Year’s Eve of 1988, and through a long, arduous, and impulsive trip with friends, Kirul found himself beginning the next chapter of his life in Brooklyn, NY on New Year’s Day, 1989. He lived in a small apartment with a dozen other young Sri Lankan men, working around the clock to support his family back in Sri Lanka. He was able to have his wife and young son join him in New York later in 1989, and from there, their new life began in the United States. Kirul worked hard to provide a beautiful life for his family, eventually moving to Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he would spend the remainder of his life. Kirul owned several local businesses in the Chicopee area, eventually fulfilling his lifelong dream of serving Sri Lankan food to his community, with the opening of Island Spice restaurant and food truck in 2023. Kirul was an avid gardener, filling his home and yard with beautiful plants, vegetables, and bright flowers. He was a man of great faith, and communicant of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Chicopee. Kirul loved his family beyond all measures, and fought hard until the day he passed, to be with them. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Deepthi (Mendis) Fernando; his three loving and devoted daughters, Kawinthi N. Fernando and her husband, Jeffrey Busha of Haverhill, and Malinthi L. Fernando and Dinithi C. Fernando, both of Chicopee; his loving daughter-in-law, Dr. Mahawa Sam of Worcester; his four dear sisters, Swineetha Fernando and her husband, Ananda Amarasinghe, of Staten Island, NY, and Swarna Fernando, Kusuma Fernando, and Malkanthi Fernando and her husband, Upali DeSilva, all of Sri Lanka; his two dear brothers, Pelix Fernando and his wife, Erin Perera, and Sarath Fernando and his wife, Priyani, all of Sri Lanka; his two dear brothers-in-law, Benedict Silva and Lushan Mendis, both of Sri Lanka; his two dear brothers-in law of the Mendis family, Ranjan Mendis and his wife, Sharmila Tissera, of Chicopee, and Rohan Mendis and his wife, Maureen, of Floral Park, NY; his dear sister-in-law, Nilanthi Mendis and her husband, Ruwan Jayalath, of Sri Lanka; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, numerous friends and extended family members in Sri Lanka, the United States, Australia, Japan, Sweden, and Finland. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved son, Welisarage Kaween Nisal Fernando who was Called Home on May 25, 2023; his two dear sisters, Benita Fernando and Helen Fernando; his two dear brothers-in-law, Anicetas Silva and Tudor Silva; and his beloved nephew and godson, Kushala Fernando. His Funeral will be held on Monday, August 19, 2024 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 56 Saint Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His Burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home on Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support his family at https://gofund.me/ad85c2f4. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com