Janet R (Rafter) Fernandez

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. Janet R. Fernandez (nee Rafter)’s life was adorable. It was love and faith. On Monday June 7th, after 78 trips around the sun Janet’s shadow lost itself. Watch the sunset and tell me again how the end of something can’t be beautiful. God wiped away our tears. There’s no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain. For the older order of things have passed away.

Janet was born in Philadelphia, PA and spent her formative years in the city. True love is your soul's recognition of its counterpoint in another. Janet’s soul recognized it’s counterpoint in Guy D. Fernandez at a friend’s wedding on September 15, 1962. Dedicated love and 55 years of marriage began with a wink. In 1966, Janet found her little patch of heaven in Oaklyn, NJ where she raised her family for 55 years. Janet held her faith dear and was a longtime, active parishioner of St. Joseph The Worker Parish, St. Aloysius Church in Oaklyn where she served as a youth leader and Eucharistic Minister. Mrs. Fernandez made her career as an Office Administrator for Dechert LLP in Philadelphia and will fondly be remembered as a sweet lady but no pushover.

We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love. What we need in love is only this... to learn to let each other go. Holding on comes easily. Janet was predeceased by her late son Douglass Fernandez. She is survived by her husband Guy D. Fernandez, her daughter Donna Evans and her husband Dan. Mrs. Fernandez is the proud grandmother of Amanda, J.J., Jason and great grandmother of Arden. She is also survived and will be sadly missed by her sister Eileen Wawrzynek, and is predeceased by her sisters Ruth Williamson and Bunny Carrigan.

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. Relatives, friends, neighbors and parishioners are invited to gather with the Fernandez family on Monday morning. We’ll be sharing our heartfelt stories between 9:30 am and 10:30 am at Creran Celebration Etherington & Creran Funeral Homes 400 White Horse Pike Oaklyn. We will venerate life through faith and celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Joseph The Worker Parish, St. Aloysius Church 37 W. Haddon Ave. Oaklyn.

When asked where his land was, Chief Crazy Horse replied, “My land is where my people are buried.” The time honored tradition of reuniting those we love with nature will immediately follow where Mrs. Fernandez’s son is at Harleigh Cemetery, Camden. As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Joseph;s Indian School 1301 N. Main St. Chamberlain, SD 57325 www.sjto.org

#crerancelebration #heartfelt