Long time Antioch resident Helen Ramona Fernandez passed away Saturday evening February 17, 2024, at Kaiser hospital in Antioch.
Helen was born on February 28, 1933, in Sunnyvale California to John and Lucy Reyes.  She attended school in Pittsburg, Ca. and for a brief period in Antioch Ca. She graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1951. After High School, Helen worked for Pac Bell as an Operator.  She later met and married Tony Fernandez and became a lifelong resident of Antioch California.  She retired from LMC Hospital and Antioch Unified School District in the Food Service Industry.  Helen was a people person and enjoyed serving in ministry as a member of Holy Rosary Church.  Her ministry service included YLI of Antioch as well as St. Vincent de Paul. One of the last places she served was Meals on Wheels making sure her neighbors and community had groceries.
Her hobbies included exercise classes and also was an avid walker. Helen enjoyed countless hours at her grandchildren's numerous sporting events.  She was a huge fan of sports and her love for the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. Helen along with her longtime companion John Crespo became ushers for the SF Giants where she worked from 2001-2019. This was Helen's dream job where she proudly participated in 3 World Series Championship parades along with all the players and fans who loved the Giants. She also enjoyed family gatherings of any kind and was always the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. She loved being a part of her family.
Helen is preceded in death by parents John and Lucy. Husband Tony Fernandez. Brothers Rudy, Phil, John, Dee, Tony, and Ernie. Sisters Theresa, Grace, Tillie, and Louise.
Helen is survived by her three children, sons Gus (Jennifer), Anthony (Aggie) and daughter Jeanne (Jeff) Frigard. Her eight grandchildren: Mitchell (Ashleigh) Fernandez, Jessica (Keegan Crawford) Andrews, Rachel (Aj Ayers) Fernandez, Jillian (DJ) Broussard, Alexis (Alex) Reyes, Anthony (Jerica) Reyes, Gregory and Kevin Fernandez. 14 Great Grandchildren: Charlyze, Gabriel, Alexander, Mateo, Augustine, Gio, Gino, Jaxon, Scarlett, Alivia, Jayden, Maya, Dominic, Aiden (and two more on the way). Numerous nieces and nephews along with friends that are too many to count.
A memorial funeral liturgy will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 10am at St. Ignatius of Antioch. Committal services following at Holy Cross Cemetery in Antioch.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to YLI #101 of Antioch, Ca. Please mail checks to; Beth Enea 1755 Indian Wells Way Clayton, Ca. 94517