Ana Julia Fernandez, 1940–2026, was ‘a woman of deep faith’

Ana Julia Fernandez, of Waltham, passed away Monday, April 27, 2026, at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, MA. She was 86.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Ana later married and, together with her husband, migrated to the U.S., where they built a home and raised a devoted family.

A woman of deep faith, the two most important things in Ana’s life were her faith and her family. The loving mother of eight children, she found great joy in being surrounded by those she cherished most. Whenever the opportunity arose, she loved to dance. She was warm and outgoing, made friends easily and embraced life with a vibrant, social spirit. She also enjoyed traveling, especially returning to her beloved homeland.

Ana took great pride in watching her grandchildren grow and was overjoyed to see the next generation of great-grandchildren. She treasured every opportunity to guide them, sharing her cooking, her stories and her wisdom. She leaves a lasting legacy of love, strength and unwavering commitment to her entire family.

She was the daughter of the late Jose Ventura and Domenica (Almonte) Ventura, and the beloved wife of the late Ciriaco Fernandez.

She is survived by her eight children: Santo Fernandez, Pedro Fernandez, Carmen Fernandez, Zulema Fernandez, Marisol Fernandez, Candido Fernandez, and Franklin Fernandez, all of Waltham, and Fernando Fernandez of Framingham. She also leaves many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Friends and family shared memories of Ana’s life on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Following services, Ana will return to her homeland to be laid to rest with her beloved husband, who passed in 2017.