On June, 28th, Mary Fernandez, longtime business owner and resident of Northfield,

Vermont peacefully passed away at her home of more than 63 years, surrounded by her family. She was 96 years old.

Mary was born in Northfield, Vermont, the third child of Herbert and Verna (Hotham) Carmichael, on April 3, 1928. Her family moved to Barre where Mary attended local schools graduating from Spalding High School in the Class of 1946, after which, she worked as a bookkeeper, earning twenty-five cents an hour at her first job.

Mary married Rafael "Fel" Fernandez in 1955 and they settled in Northfield where they raised their four children on a working dairy farm while also starting several small business ventures in town. They remained married for 52 years, until his death in 2007.

Mary and Fel purchased the former Dearing Hardware store in 1955, renaming it Fernandez Hardware Store, which they operated for thirty-two years, providing exceptional customer service, including opening the store at any hour to help a customer in an emergency. Mary loved working in the hardware store and continued providing bookkeeping and customer service support after her sons took over managing the store.

Mary enjoyed being outdoors during the winter months and would cross country ski, snowshoe, or go sledding. During summer she enjoyed golfing and swimming. Other hobbies including sewing, knitting, bowling, playing cribbage and dancing. She enjoyed sitting around a campfire with friends any time of the year.

Mary traveled to Spain with Fel to meet his relatives, to Germany to visit her niece stationed there, and to the Bahamas on a cruise with daughter Lynda's family. Her last big travel adventure was a cross country jaunt with her dog Maggie as she rode from Northfield to Boise, Idaho, with her daughter Lisa, stopping along the way to see Niagara Falls, attend a Pittsburgh Pirates game, and visit numerous National Parks along the way.

Despite enjoying her adventures away from home, Mary was always happiest when in the company of any of her grandchildren. Trips to visit her grandchildren were her favorite. One of her last trips was to New Jersey where she held her great granddaughter Chloe and great grandson Cameron. Any time she could hold one of her grandchildren or great grandchildren was a special day for her. They can rest assured that she is watching over them.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Rafael "Fel" Fernandez, her parents Herbert and Verna Carmichael, her brothers Phillip, Fredric Carmichael, her nephews Philip Carmichael, Garth Carmichael, William Voorhees, Norman F. Anderson, and her nieces Nina Popowski Brignon, Judy Carmichael Casey, and Wanda Carmichael Judd.

She is survived by her four children, David Fernandez of Northfield, Vermont, Lisa

Fernandez (Terry)Eldredge of Sun Valley, Idaho, Lynda (Stewart) Dunlop of North Conway, New Hampshire, and Ramon (Melanie) Fernandez of Northfield, Vermont; her

grandchildren, Lindsay Fernandez (Jared) Montagna of Parsippany, New Jersey, Juliaunna Fernandez Dunlop of New York City, Nina Fernandez Eldredge of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Rachel Fernandez and John Fernandez of Northfield, Vermont; her great grandchildren Cameron and Chloe Montagna, her sister Sandra Carmichael Voorhees, and her many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the nurses,

aides, social workers, and equipment providers from Central Vermont Hospice who

provided compassionate care and support to Mary and our family, and to Dr. Elizabeth

Meehan for the concern and care she showed our mother. Thank you.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. John's Catholic Church in Northfield, VT on Friday August 2 at 3:00pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Northfield Senior Center

http://www.greaternorthfieldseniors.org/donate.html