Ernest Fernandes

Our beloved Ernest (Ernie) Bernard Fernandes, 81, went to be with his Lord in the early morning hours of Thursday May 5, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with illness. Ernie was born in Guyana, South America in 1934, the son of Ernest and Vera Fernandes. He was the youngest of 4 siblings who have preceded him in death, Gaston, Lena, and Hazel. As a young man, Ernie loved flying, and he immigrated to Canada where he obtained his pilot's license. It was while he was in Canada that he met his beloved wife Marguerite (Wood) and they returned to Guyana where Ernie worked initially as a bush pilot flying in the jungles of Guyana. He had his own business in Barbados for a time, flying celebrities around the Caribbean. He ultimately went on to work for Bookers, a sugar cane company in Guyana, as chief pilot. Due to much political unrest in Guyana, Ernie and his family finally found their permanent home here Gulf Breeze in 1978. Ernie enters his rest in Christ Jesus while leaving behind his wife of 59 years, Marguerite; son, Ernest Andrew; daughter, Suzanne Mitchell; granddaughter, Hannah Fernandes-Martin; son-inlaw, Gene Mitchell; daughter-in-law, Tanya (Kunze) Fernandes; and many nieces, nephews, and relatives, whom he loved dearly. Ernie constantly nurtured and blessed his family with a most unselfish spirit of love and giving. He touched many lives, serving as mentor and friend. We will all miss him until we are together again. Funeral services will be held Monday May 9, 2016 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Gulf Breeze at 10:00 a.m., with open visitation from 9:30 until 10 and procession to Rose Lawn Cemetery following the service. Following the burial there will be a reception following at St. Ann's Catholic Church.

Visitation

Visitation

St. Ann Catholic Church
100 Daniel Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL  32561
Monday, May 9, 2016
9:30 AM

Service

Funeral Mass

St. Ann Catholic Church
100 Daniel Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL  32561
Monday, May 9, 2016
10:00 AM

Cemetery

Burial

Rose Lawn Cemetery
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563