(1932-2023)

Sister Evangelina G. Fernandez, known as Sister Vangie, died on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the Dominican Sisters’ convent in barangay Mining, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. She was 91 years of age and in the 59th year of her religious profession, serving the People of God for 46 years as a Dominican Sister of Our Lady of Remedies and 12 years as an Adrian Dominican Sister after the two congregations merged in 2011.

Sister Vangie came to the Adrian Dominican Congregation on September 13, 1962, to begin formation for a Dominican foundation of religious life to be established in the Province of Pampanga, Philippines. She entered the novitiate on January 7, 1963, and before returning to the Philippines, made her Private First Profession of Vows on February 11, 1965. She made her Private Final Profession of Vows on May 27, 1965. She later made Public Final Profession of Vows at the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary Chapel, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. 

Sister Vangie was born in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, to Ciriaco and Jacinta (Garcia) Fernandez. She graduated from Talavera Province High School in Talavera, Nueva Ecija; received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and high school education from Wesleyan College in the Philippines; and earned a master’s degree in education from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Vangie was named founding Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Remedies when it was established in the Philippines in 1972. She was later elected as Prioress of the independent congregation for two separate terms, from 1975 to 1978 and 1982 to 1985.

She also ministered in education for five years as principal at Assumption College and one year as a theology teacher at the University of the Assumption, both in San Fernando. She served more than 12 years in pastoral work in Lubao and San Fernando and six years as a guidance counselor in Manibaug and Lubao.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Agustin. She is survived by her brother Eugenio of La Verna Hills, Davao City, the Philippines.

Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal (burial) will be held on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in Holy Mary Memorial Park in Angeles City, Philippines. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Catherine Chapel in Adrian on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. The Ritual of Remembrance will take place at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 21, 2023, in the Rose Room of the Dominican Life Center. Both services in Adrian will be available via live stream.

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221. 

 

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

 

Memorial and Remembrance Recordings

Recording of Sister Vangie's Memorial Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Vangie's Ritual of Remembrance - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download."

 

Left: Sister Evangelina Fernandez; Center: The first four members of the Congregation of Our Lady of Remedies gather with Mother Genevieve Weber, Mother General of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Shown are, from left, Sisters Esperanza Bonifacio (Sister Joseph), Digna San Vicente (Sister Thomas), Mother Genevieve, Sister Milagros Garcia (Sister Regina), and Evangelina Fernandez (Sister Dominic); Right: Sister Evangelina Fernandez with Aeta children at Villa Maria in Porac, Pampanga, Philippines

Left: Sisters Evangelina Fernandez and Aleli Gose celebrate their public Final Profession with friends and relatives; Center: Sisters Mary Philip Ryan, left, and Evangelina Fernandez; Right: From left, Sisters Rose Ann Schlitt, Evangelina Fernandez, and Prioress Maria Socorro Garcia participate in a ritual of tying two cloths together to symbolize the merger of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Remedies with the Adrian Dominican Sisters, November 2011.

Left: Sister Evangelina Fernandez cuts the ribbon for Our Lady of Remedies Chapter’s new central house, the Adrian Dominican House of Remedies, in March 2023; Right: From left, Sisters Marcine Klemm and Evangelina Fernandez.

Left: Sister Evangelina with Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of the Archdiocese of San Fernando; Center: Sister Evangelina enjoys the communal celebration of her 91st birthday on April 25, 2023; Right: From left, Sisters Evangelina Fernandez and Lois Paha

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