Eustolia G Fernandez

In November of 1921, Warren G. Harding was President, the Prohibition Era was in full force, and Orange County, California was (true to its name) mostly orange groves. That was the world Eustolia Fernández was born into. Her life took her to Mexico, where her parents were from, and back to the United States. She raised three children as a single parent and as a grandmother was a key part of her first grandson’s early childhood. Her century-plus life saw the invention of television, space flight, computers, smartphones, even sliced bread if you can believe it . . . She liked casinos and action movies (especially ones with Sylvester Stallone). She loved gardening and had a “green thumb”, something – to her dismay -- her children did not inherit. She called Nogales, Arizona home since 1960, participating in local elections and volunteering at the food bank. She had the sense of humor to name a chihuahua Godzilla. And she always loved her grandson – even when he grew his hair long “like a criminal”. She was direct and truthful and had great respect for peace officers and the military, where her son and daughter served. The family misses her uniqueness, loving nature, generosity, and sense of humor.

Eustolia – Tola to her friends – is survived by her son, Ray Fernandez, daughter, Solange Brooks, brothers Felipe and Luis Fernandez and brother-in-law, Andres Espinoza, and their extended families.