Angela Renee Fernandes

Angela Renee Fernandes, 44, died unexpectedly on July 1, 2023, in Seattle, Washington. Angela was born September 5, 1978, in Durham, NC, the daughter of Camillo Fernandes and Deborah Satterfield Fernandes Velasco. She attended Durham area schools (Holt Elementary, Braggtown and Chewning Middle Schools, and Riverside High School). She graduated from Duke University in 2000, majoring in theater. Angela appeared in a university production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. As a staff writer, she contributed witty and notable articles to the school’s newspaper, The Chronicle.

Angela moved to Seattle in 2007, settling near Alki Beach. She loved her apartment, with a location by the water, as it had a historic charm and character that Angela so appreciated. She savored her long walks on the nearby rocky shore, collecting sea glass and finding joy observing the people, seals, and dogs along the coast.

She earned an MA in Psychology from Seattle University in 2015. She was a media professional for 15 years prior to entering the field of mental health and continued to delve into professional creative writing and editing projects. She wrote storylines and character dialogue for video games for several game studios and enjoyed playtesting new technology. She worked for many companies in the Seattle area, including Nintendo, Microsoft, Amazon, Nordstrom, and Zulily.

She trained with her good friend and mentor, Gregory McBride, a veteran Seattle marriage and family counselor. She also received training through the Cabrini Ministry Program of the Seattle Archdiocese, which trains people to offer guidance, support, and comfort to those in hospitals, prisons, and at home with the elderly, sick, and dying. Throughout the year, Angela also led healing retreats for Project Rachel, a ministry for women and men who suffered from abortion.

Angela worked with many people in all stages of mental health recovery in community mental health, local churches, and through sponsorship in 12-step groups. She completed her clinical internship in an outpatient psychiatric clinic providing mental health and substance abuse counseling.

Her special interests included issues of faith and spirituality, 12-step recovery, the role of creative arts in therapy, and how technology influences culture and relationships. She also taught a communications class in the Witness to Love marriage prep program at Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle. She enjoyed offering talks on the topics of faith, religion, and psychology.

Angela found great joy in the fellowship and community of her parish, Blessed Sacrament in Seattle, and was involved in many ministries at the church. There she formed many meaningful friendships, specifically with Mark and Jan Shea, who were with her and lovingly cared for her in her final moments. Her pleasant, distinctive voice offered great beauty to the readings she offered as a lector at Mass.

Angela was a seasoned traveler, whether it was the hills of Scotland, the shores of Hawaii, the picturesque beauty of Norway, the mountains of Colorado, or visiting her family members on the east coast for special events, vacations, and Halloween with her beloved nephew and niece. Angela was also a talented chef, who enjoyed preparing dishes from her family’s Goan Indian Portuguese heritage, as well as some favorite Southern/North Carolina family recipes. It was important to her when traveling to continuously discover the local culture and cuisine. It truly inspired and excited her.

She will be missed by those who loved her most: her parents, Camillo of Durham, NC, and Deborah of Wake Forest, NC; her cherished sister, Michelle Fernandes Brandl (Daniel) of Cary, NC; her nephew, William Brandl and niece, Rosaria Brandl; her brother, Brian Velasco, of Wake Forest, NC; her uncle and aunt, Joseph and Rebecca Fernandes, of Dallas, GA; her cousins, Cristi Fernandes Kent (Michael) of Marietta, GA, Cedric Fernandes (Mary Jo) of Madison, AL, and Cynthia Fernandes Chada (Todd) of Marietta, GA. She was also a treasured auntie to her cousins’ 16 children. Angela was preceded in death by her unborn nieces and nephew, Amelia, Elaina, and Thomas, as well as her grandparents, Assumption and Lourdina Fernandes and Clyde D. Satterfield, Jr. and Faye Brewer Satterfield Bunn.

A funeral mass in celebration of her life will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 810 W. Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701 on Monday, July 17, 2023, at 11am. Burial will follow the reception at St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery, 1001 Mason Road, Durham, NC 27712. A reception will be held for family and friends at St. Matthew’s following the burial. The family will greet friends at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 W. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701 on Sunday, July 16, 2023, from 3-6 pm. A memorial service will be offered at Blessed Sacrament in Seattle at a time to be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Project Rachel (https://ccsww.org/donate-project-rachel/), Meals on Wheels (Sound Generations of King County: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/f/1o3y/n?vid=zjv36 ), and Blessed Sacrament’s Marriage Preparation Program (https://osvhub.com/blessed-sacrament-church-seattle/giving/funds/marriage-preparation).

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

The Fernandes family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.