Eduardo De Guzman Fernandez Jr.

Our most beloved, Eduardo De Guzman Fernandez Jr, was called back home by Our Lord to an eternal bliss of happiness, on Sunday, April 23, 2023. He went peacefully in the arms of his wife and his children at home, just as he wanted. Eduardo Jr. was born in Catanduanes, Philippines, to Eduardo Sr. and Eseseria Fernandez on September 4, 1949. He served as an altar boy at the Redemptorist Church in his teens. After graduating from high school at St. Andrews School, he got a bookkeeping certification and started working to help his family. He married Maria Teresa Josephine Busque on September 2, 1972 in Paranaque, Philippines. God blessed them with 10 children who they raised to have deep faith in God’s Divine Providence, devotion to Our Blessed Mother and to have grateful hearts in everything. They also instilled in their children, great love for family and that everyone should take care of one another and no one should be left behind, thus, despite the poverty (financially) that the family went through, all 10 children graduated with degrees; four with BS Engineering degrees, four with BS Nursing, one with a law degree and one with a BS Philosophy degree; all through God’s Divine Providence through scholarships and other people whom He sent to help the family, including the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales, Parish of the Five Wounds (Stigmatine Priests and Brothers) in Las Pinas, Philippines and many more.

Eduardo Jr, a man of God, a loving husband, a selfless father of 10 children and in-laws and a doting grandfather to his 10 grandchildren, lived his life to the fullest, giving glory to God throughout his life. He was known for his strict parenting but with a very soft heart within; for being a hardworking provider but he never let his children felt his struggles; for his unwavering faith in God’s Divine Providence amidst the challenges and for his positive outlook despite all the pain and suffering he went through in life and from his cancer. He spent his days surrounded by family and friends, making the most of every moment they had.

Eduardo Jr. migrated to the United States in 2013, followed by his wife in 2014 and lived in Rio Rancho, NM and was a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.  He worked at Walmart from 2014 to 2021 and took pride in his hard work and dedication to his job, working as a Sales Associate. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Maria Teresa Josephine Fernandez, their ten children, Eduardo Halcyon (Nora) Fernandez, Mary Joan (Joseph) Linnebur, Jennette (Ronaldo) Bantugan, Michael (Janice) Fernandez, Ruth Jocelyn (Jeffrey) De Guzman, Ma. Esther Socorro Fernandez, Rafael (Joan) Fernandez, Gabriel (Michelle) Fernandez, Fidel (Lucien) Fernandez and Charlemagne Fernandez, and 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Fr. Frank and Joseph, and his sisters, Elvira, Perseveranda, Minerva, Ma. Socorro and Veronica. He is preceded in death by his parents, Eduardo and Eseseria Fernandez.

While we long for the physical presence of Eduardo Jr.  in our lives, we take solace in knowing that he is now in the glorious presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ and in the loving embrace of our Blessed Mother, with all the angels and saints, and we can’t help but to feel joy as well, with his eternal happiness. His beautiful memory, his legacy of submission to God’s will, unwavering faith and love for God, his utmost love for family, his wisdom, hope, strength, and perseverance will continue to live on and inspire us all. He fought a good fight and he was the embodiment of redemptive suffering.

As he always say, we give to God all the glory, praise and thanksgiving, Amen.

A Rosary Vigil and Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00pm – 8:00pm on Tuesday, May 2^nd, at Daniels Family Funeral Service (4310 Sara Rd. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124)

Requiem Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, May 3^rd, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (1502 Sara Rd., Rio Rancho, NM, 87124), starting with a Rosary at 10:00 am.

Zoom information is also available for those who are interested to join us via online. Please message any of the family members for the Zoom ID and password, the day before the event/s.