May 18, 1939 ~ February 4, 2023
Macario T. Fernandez Jr., beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed peacefully of acute renal failure at home in Salt Lake City during the early morning of February 4, 2023.
Mac, AKA “Big Mac,” was born in Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines on May 18, 1939. He is the last of seven children born to Macario Fernandez Sr. and Esperanza Tano. All predeceased him. Surviving is his beloved wife of 51 years, Marina Fernandez; his only child, Marienelle Antoinette; and grandchildren Bella Peyton and Gia Marley. The eldest granddaughter, Alicia Antoinette, predeceased him.
Big Mac graduated from University of the East, Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was not content with one college degree, so he went for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Arellano University. He met his wife on this nursing journey and married her after in November 1971. They migrated to North America and Canada in 1973; then lived in Salt Lake City from 1992 until his death.
Mac’s life was centered in his Catholic faith and family. He was a great, loving husband, dad and papa. He loved to travel and had a contagious humor. When asked how he was, he always responded with “I’m better now that I’ve seen you.” His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he met.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on February 14 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Salt Lake City. He will be laid to rest in a private family service at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
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