Mary Jane Fernandes

Mary Jane Fernandes was born Mary Jane Edwards July 16, 1912 in Reno, Nevada. She died March 3, 2003 at Little Eden on South Eighth Street, Cottonwood, Arizona at the age of 90. She graduated from Hilmar High School in 1929 and is a life member of the California Scholaraship Federation. Mary Jane was a young divorcee supporting two dhildren during the second World War. She was a cashier at Safeway in Turlock, California and then a dental assistant at the Army Rehabilitation Center in Turlock. After the war she married Henry Fernandes and lived in Livingston, California and continued working--she had several jobs-cashier at a grocery store, short order cook, clerk at a locker plant, dental assistant, independent sales person making her way to the top selling \u0027\u0027Fratex Plastic\u0027\u0027 home decorating products, and finally, a job with the Merced County Welfare Department, Merced, California, first as a receptionist and then a case worker. She retired from Merced County in August of 1974. While working, she did not forget her civic duties. She was President of the Livingston American Legion Auxillary helping with many of their activities. If you needed help, just call, she was always ready to lend a helping hand. Her husband was a sweet potato farmer and it was not unusual to see her helping him in the field. She did his bookkeeping and continued to raise her children. Mary Jane came to live in Cottonwood in 1986 and endeared herself to many people with her loving ways. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and again her hands were ready to accept any challenge. She was President of the Ladies Guild at the Church. Survivors include her daughter Marlene Zuercher of Cottonwood, six grandchildren, Stanley Carlberg of Elk, Washington; Ralph Carlberg of Seattle, Washington; Douglas Carlberg of Coulee City, Washington, Marny Benedict of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kimo Zuercher of Peoria, AZ and Nani Wood of Latexo, Texas, ten great grandchildren and five great greatgrandchildren. Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Fernandes, her son, Raymond Carlberg and a great grandson. A visitation will be held on Friday evening, March 7th at 5:00 p.m. at the Westcott Funeral Home, 1013 E. Mingus Avenue, Cottonwood. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 8th at Immaculate Conception Church 700 Bill Gray Road Cottonwood, at 1:00 P.M. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Clarkdale.