Maureen Martha Fernandez

Maureen Martha Reed Fernandez, age 79, peacefully entered heaven on Sunday, March 8th, 2026, with her family by her side, listening to her son Wade play and sing beautiful songs he had written about her parents on acoustic guitar. She was born on March 2, 1947, in the town of Underhill, Oconto County. She was one of eight children born to the late Wallace and Frieda Reed, a close-knit logging and farming family. She married Bob Fernandez in 1964 in Milwaukee. Maureen was a devoted and loving wife to her husband Bob of 61 years, and a loving mother to her five children and grandmother to her nine grandchildren. She and her husband Bob raised their five children in the forest on the Menominee Reservation. Maureen was the type of woman who loved Mother Earth, the eagles and all the wild critters as she called them. She loved to swim in the Wolf River and to live in the beautiful forest on the reservation. She raised her children on Bible scripture and would sing the lighthouse song as she tucked them into bed. She was a strong believer in raising her family on organic meats and vegetables. She canned foods from her garden and the forest, including blackberries, apple sauce, German pickles and venison.

Maureen was an excellent cook and baker, and made bread, biscuits, and cinnamon rolls. All her children and grandchildren loved her pan fried fish recipe from the fish her husband caught. She loved her family trips out west to the mountains, and visiting her children in New York City and Seattle. She loved dancing and won a contest as a teen. She also loved dancing bachata with her daughters and granddaughters. She loved playing piano and singing—music was passed down from both her parents. She would never forget each birthday of her children and grandchildren, calling them no matter what state or country they were living in, to play the piano and sing happy birthday the same minute they were born.

She is survived by the love of her life of 61 years Bob Fernandez, two beautiful daughters: Dawn of Milwaukee, WI, and Angela (Ebasa Sarka) of Seattle, WA; three wonderful sons: Wade (Gabrielle Metoxen) of Keshena, WI, Dillon of New York City, NY, and Travis of Keshena, WI. She is survived by nine beautiful grandchildren: Danni, Autumn and Christopher Raasch; and Wade Jr., Cedar, Quintin, Blaize, and Rain Fernandez; and Jade Fernandez Metoxen. She is also survived by her brother Dwight (Gerri) Reed, Stanley (Ruth) Reed, Valerie (Roger) Fernandez, Colleen (Joe) Wicker, and the late Wallace (Karen) Reed Jr., Vivian (Ken) Pearse, and Phillip (Janice) Reed.

Maureen's passing is a huge loss, and she is sadly missed by her family, but we all know she is going to a better place in heaven without the tears, pain and suffering that she went through, especially in the last three years. She often talked about looking forward to sharing a big supper table with the Lord to greet her, her parents, her brothers Wally and Phillip, her sister Vivian, her childhood best friend and cousin Holly Schroeder, and all her relations that went on before her. Maureen will also be in heaven holding her precious dog Baby Cinnamon again. There will be no funeral services per Maureen's request.

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