Maria I. (Junior) Fernandez

Maria Ines Fernandez, 88, of Monroe, NY passed away on May 3, 2022 peacefully in the home she shared with her son Horacio and his family.

Maria was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on August 8, 1934. She grew up in Lanus, Argentina and started working in the sixth grade to help her family. As a young woman, Maria was an athlete who played basketball at Club Olympio. It is here that she met a fellow club player who eventually coached her team, and became her husband. On March 21, 1959 she married her beloved Alberto “Tito” Fernandez. 

Maria was determined to make a better life for herself and family. She took a leap of faith and convinced Tito to leave Argentina for the United States. On January 9, 1966 they arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport with two sons, ages five and one, and three hundred dollars to their name. They did not speak English. They settled in Paterson, New Jersey where Maria secured a job as a lamp shade maker at Paterson Shade. In spite of the language barrier, her hard work and determination gained her a position as supervisor in the factory. She retired in 1982. 

Maria was a loving wife, mother and Abu to her grand children. She loved to cook, read, watch her Spanish telenovelas, and drink mate every day at 2 p.m. like clockwork! Everyone loved Maria!

Maria is survived by her children, son Omar of Clifton, NJ; son Horacio and his wife Laura of Monroe, NY. Also surviving are her three grandchildren; Omar of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Dante of San Antonio, Texas; and Addison of Monroe, NY; as well as two great-grandchildren Enzo and Max.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave, Wyckoff, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maria's name to Children International at https://www.children.org/make-a-difference/donate

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