Eufemia “Lucy” Fernandez

Eufemia “Lucy” Fernandez, 72, of Tama, Iowa, formerly of Pella, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Per the wishes of Lucy and her family, cremation rites have been accorded. Mass of Christian Burial for Lucy will take place on Tuesday, October 5 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama, with Father Michael McAndrew officiating. A visitation will take place one hour prior beginning at 9:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for later designation. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Lucy and her family. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Born Eufemia Lucia Tan on November 7, 1948 in Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines, she was one of ten children born to Francisco Sr. and Eufemia Tan. In her youth, she enjoyed playing volleyball, despite her short stature. Education was very important to Lucy and after high school, she went on to obtain her Master’s degree in Anthropology at San Carlos University in the Philippines.

She was united in marriage to Joseph “Joe” Fernandez on March 27, 1977. They made their home together in Ames, Iowa in 1988 before moving to Pella in 1994. There they raised their three children and Lucy worked as a charge nurse at the Pella Regional Hospital’s Long Term Care Unit. After her retirement in 2009, they moved to Tama, Iowa, where she continued to do in-home care until 2015.

Lucy and Joe were active members of their church in Pella, as well as currently at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama, where she took part in the women’s bible study. In her free time, she enjoyed reading, writing poetry, crocheting, fishing and most of all, giving her husband a hard time. She loved her family and will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 44 years, Joe; her three children: Irran, Joseph and Rebekah Fernandez; two grandchildren: Isaac and Lilah; her siblings: Serge (Peggy) Tan, Leonidas (Rosa) Tan, Estrella Bacolod, Linda Tan, Francisco (Esterlina) Tan Jr., Antonieto (Janie) Tan and Rosemary Tan; sister-in-law, Siso Tan and several nieces and nephews.

In death, she is reunited with her parents, Francisco Sr. and Eufemia; her brothers, Salvador and Bernardo Tan and her brother-in-law, Tomas Bacolod.