Elisa Ann Fernandez

Elisa Ann Fernandez went home to be with the Lord on October 7, 2022. She was 89 years old. She was born November 8, 1932 and was the youngest of six children: four sisters, Francisca (Sue), Louise, Jane and Inez, and one brother, Andrew. Her parents, Felicia Golzarri Obieta and Fernando Cano Fernandez were immigrants from Spain. She was always very proud of her Spanish Basque heritage and spoke Spanish fluently.

Elisa grew up in Sacramento and surrounding areas. She was affectionately called "Elsie" by her classmates; she attended East Nicholas High School in Marysville, and then graduated in 1951 from St. Joseph Academy High School where she joined the chorus, having a great love of music, and also excelled in sewing classes, becoming an excellent seamstress later in life, making her own tailored suits, dresses, and some of her own children's clothes and accessories.

Elisa and Charles Marchese raised five children in Fremont, CA. With all the trials a stay-at-home mom of five would have, she did the very best she could to provide each of her children the opportunities to excel based on each of their talents, and always made sure they looked their very best with outfits she handmade for them. She went back to school and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish, then was hired by the Government in the Defense Department as a contractor negotiating high dollar contracts from 1980 until her retirement in 1997.

After retiring, she moved back to Sacramento and helped take care of her aging mother, and then also took in her oldest sister, Sue, as she was aging. Elisa had a generous and giving spirit. She wanted to be of service and did so wholeheartedly. As part of her life of service, she went through training to become a medical assistant and also worked at a public school and assisted with Spanish-speaking students and parents. She loved her family dearly and always wished she had done better for her own children. Her heart was always one of love and pride in her children and grandchildren. She loved the beach and went many times to Santa Cruz on vacation with her young family, and to Monterey and other Pacific Coast beaches. She also loved taking her grandchildren on day trips.

Her love and faith in the Lord Jesus as her Savior carried her through the good and difficult times in her life's journey and her faith became stronger as her years progressed.

She is survived by two sisters, Jane Estremera and Inez DeFazio, her five children, Anna Crews (Johnny), Margaret Parenti (Jim), Michael Marchese (Kim), Catherine Cramer, and Loretta Marchese, twelve grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Inurnment at St. Mary's Cemetery and Funeral Center, Pieta Lawn, 6509 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dementia Society of America at https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate