Obituary: Mary Josephine Hernandez

Mary Josephine Hernandez, of Waukesha, died on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, at the Virginia Health & Rehabilitation Center at the age of 95.

She was born in Oelwein, Iowa, on April 3, 1917, the daughter of the late Merced and Nicholasa (nee Castenada) Gonzales.  Mary was a graduate of St. Joseph School and during World War II she worked as a woman’s laborer. On April 17, 1937, she married Leonard Hernandez in Waukesha; he preceded her in death on Jan. 24, 1989.

Mary worked at the Aliota’s Restaurant on Bluemound Road as a salad chef for many years.  She was a member of the Guadalupe Society where she served as past-president and was a founding member of the Scholastic Fund for Students of Hispanic Descent (SFSHD).  Mary was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where she was a member of the Christian Mother’s Society.  She will always be remembered for her homemade tortillas and pies.

She will be sadly missed by her children: Michael (Karen) Hernandez of Oak Creek, Dolores Trevino of San Antonio, TX, William (Mary) Hernandez of Crivitz, Ronald (Ruth) Hernandez of Waukesha, Constance Gutierrez of Waukesha, MaryAnn (Jim) Denniston of Waukesha, Leon (Maria) Hernandez of Waukesha, Martin Hernandez of Florida and Ralph (Debbie) Hernandez of Waukesha.  She was the dear grandmother of 21 grandchildren and a proud great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother of many.  She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  In addition to her husband Leonard, she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Antonia Melendez, Matthew Gonzales, Frank Gonzales and Bertha Gonzales.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, from 4 p.m. until the 7 p.m. vigil service at Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha.  Services continue on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, at the funeral home with prayers beginning at 9:45 a.m. followed by the procession to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 822 N. East Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186 for the 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass.  Graveside services will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. If desired, memorials in Mary’s names are appreciated to St. Joseph’s Medical Clinic, 826 N. East Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186.

For further information, please call or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.