1951
Fidela
2021
Fidela Antonio Fernandes
April 27, 1951 — September 20, 2021
Fidela Fernandes passed away peacefully, in her home on September 20, 2021 at the age of 70. She will be dearly missed by her husband Vincent Fernandes; their daughter Tracy and son-in-law Aaron Clearsky of Calgary; her grandson Ammon Clearsky; and her brother Jose Domingo Ulep of San Nicolas, Philippines. Fidela is also survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives in the Philippines, Tanzania, India, Winnipeg, and Toronto.
Fidela was predeceased by her parents Sabina Brillante Ulep; her grandson Dieter Clearsky (2013); her sisters Margarita Layugan and Francisca Lanier; and her brothers Federico Ulep and Teofisto Ulep.
Fidela was born and raised in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. She loved learning and worked extremely hard in school to obtain good grades. She managed to keep her grades high although she was required to put in long hours to help her parents farm. Because her father never had the opportunity to attend school, and could not read or write, he wanted his children to have an education. She was forced to stop attending school after 2 years of high school, because her family could not afford the tuition fee. She eventually went back and continued on to college. She managed to receive her degree in accounting although it was very hard to divide her time for school and farm work. Her father was very proud because she was the first member of her family to receive a college degree.
Fidela was always a champion for the underdogs. She bravely defended anyone who got bullied. One day, one of her uncles, who happened to be a lawyer, gave her a book to read on Philippine land reform laws. She learned that there was a cap on how much land a landlord could own, and tenants were not to do extra work without getting paid for it. She and her uncle took the landlord to court and won their case, which improved conditions for the farmers. The farmer’s group to which her father belonged, could not believe a young high school kid would challenge their wealthy landlord and win their case. Later on when Fidela moved to Canada, she and her husband were able to purchase farm land for her parents. Her father refered to her as both his son and daughter because of her work ethic and dependable nature. Her father fully trusted her with all his affairs.
Fidela had aspirations to become a soldier, so she joined the cadet organization in her town. She was later selected by their mayor to represent her town in a nationwide training competion and was sent to another city. She decided to not pursue this career for personal reasons, but her town was very proud of her.
Fidela moved to Canada in 1986, and chose to work in childcare for most of her life; she also worked in nursing homes as a nurse’s aid and a companion caregiver. Her loving, gentle, nature made her suitable for this work. The children she looked after became her other children and loved them like her own. She often stayed in the nursing homes after her shifts to help residents who could not feed themselves. On her days off, she would go back to visit lonely residents who did not have family to visit them. She was a gifted teacher and a nurturer.
She touched countless lives during her time here on earth. Her legacy of love, service, compassion, forgiveness, and patience will be greatly missed in her absence. She had a deep love for her Saviour Jesus Christ and her life was a reflection of it.
Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2021 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 24th Street Chapel (10923 – 24 Street SW, Calgary).
A Funeral Service will be held for Fidela at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 24th Street Chapel (10923 – 24 Street SW, Calgary) on Monday, September 27, 2021 at 11:00 am. A visitation will be held at the Church from 10:00 am to 10:45 am prior to the service. Interment will follow at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens. The service may be viewed by the following link via ZOOM:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82078229040
The link will be active fifteen minutes prior to service.
Hugs from home can be submitted under the resources tab.
In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Mustard Seed,
https://theseed.ca/donate/
.
Fidela was predeceased by her parents Sabina Brillante Ulep; her grandson Dieter Clearsky (2013); her sisters Margarita Layugan and Francisca Lanier; and her brothers Federico Ulep and Teofisto Ulep.
Fidela was born and raised in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. She loved learning and worked extremely hard in school to obtain good grades. She managed to keep her grades high although she was required to put in long hours to help her parents farm. Because her father never had the opportunity to attend school, and could not read or write, he wanted his children to have an education. She was forced to stop attending school after 2 years of high school, because her family could not afford the tuition fee. She eventually went back and continued on to college. She managed to receive her degree in accounting although it was very hard to divide her time for school and farm work. Her father was very proud because she was the first member of her family to receive a college degree.
Fidela was always a champion for the underdogs. She bravely defended anyone who got bullied. One day, one of her uncles, who happened to be a lawyer, gave her a book to read on Philippine land reform laws. She learned that there was a cap on how much land a landlord could own, and tenants were not to do extra work without getting paid for it. She and her uncle took the landlord to court and won their case, which improved conditions for the farmers. The farmer’s group to which her father belonged, could not believe a young high school kid would challenge their wealthy landlord and win their case. Later on when Fidela moved to Canada, she and her husband were able to purchase farm land for her parents. Her father refered to her as both his son and daughter because of her work ethic and dependable nature. Her father fully trusted her with all his affairs.
Fidela had aspirations to become a soldier, so she joined the cadet organization in her town. She was later selected by their mayor to represent her town in a nationwide training competion and was sent to another city. She decided to not pursue this career for personal reasons, but her town was very proud of her.
Fidela moved to Canada in 1986, and chose to work in childcare for most of her life; she also worked in nursing homes as a nurse’s aid and a companion caregiver. Her loving, gentle, nature made her suitable for this work. The children she looked after became her other children and loved them like her own. She often stayed in the nursing homes after her shifts to help residents who could not feed themselves. On her days off, she would go back to visit lonely residents who did not have family to visit them. She was a gifted teacher and a nurturer.
She touched countless lives during her time here on earth. Her legacy of love, service, compassion, forgiveness, and patience will be greatly missed in her absence. She had a deep love for her Saviour Jesus Christ and her life was a reflection of it.
Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2021 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 24th Street Chapel (10923 – 24 Street SW, Calgary).
A Funeral Service will be held for Fidela at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 24th Street Chapel (10923 – 24 Street SW, Calgary) on Monday, September 27, 2021 at 11:00 am. A visitation will be held at the Church from 10:00 am to 10:45 am prior to the service. Interment will follow at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens. The service may be viewed by the following link via ZOOM:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82078229040
The link will be active fifteen minutes prior to service.
Hugs from home can be submitted under the resources tab.
In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Mustard Seed,
https://theseed.ca/donate/
.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Fidela Antonio Fernandes, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, September 26, 2021
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 24th Street Chapel
Guestbook
Visits: 20
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