Raymond O. Fernandes, 95, previously of North Caldwell, NJ, died peacefully in his sleep on August 16, 2017.

The youngest of eight children, Ray was born in Belem, Para, Brazil, to the late Antonio and Cacilda. He moved with his family to Portugal at the age of three and lived in Murtosa and Lisbon, Portugal before settling in Newark, NJ at the age of eight. Ray grew up in the ironbound section of Newark and graduated from Barringer High School. He served in North Africa and Italy during World War II and participated in the Anzio campaign, where he was awarded two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars.

After the war, Ray met his future wife Eva (nee Holmberg) at a youth group meeting at the Second Presbyterian Church in Newark. They were married six months later in the home they purchased in North Caldwell, NJ where they raised their family and lived for 62 years.

Ray was a Production Manager for Mepco Electra, a division of North American Phillips and later became a Project Manager for Becht Engineering in Liberty Corner. Ray and Eva were members of the Victorian Society in Montclair, and the Roseland Historical Society. Ray also volunteered as a committee member for Boy Scout Troop 1, North Caldwell and with the West Essex High School Band Boosters.

Ray was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Eva in 2015 and is survived by his daughter Linda Fernandes Butler and her husband Phillip Butler, daughter Anita Fenn and her husband Thomas Fenn, and son Raymond Russell and his wife Monica and their children Megan Kelly and Christopher Raymond along with several nieces and a nephew.

Services are private and under the direction of the Valley Memorial Funeral Home 1012 Valley Rd., Gillette, NJ. For more information and on-line condolences visit www.valleymemorialfuneralhome.net.

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