Obituary Anita Fernandez Luna, J.D. 12-4-15
December 04, 2015
Obituaries
Anita Fernandez Luna, J.D.
Anita Fernandez Luna, with her beloved husband by her side, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 29, 2015. A lifetime Santa Paula resident, Anita was born to Lorenzo and Francis Fernandez on January 27, 1940, in Santa Paula, California. She was the third youngest of her family of five brothers and three sisters. Anita attended elementary and middle school in Santa Paula, and graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1957. She attended Ventura College before beginning work with the County of Ventura. A lifelong learner, she later returned to school and graduated from The California Institute of Law with her Juris Doctor in 1989.
Anita was an eighth-generation Californian and a direct descendant of Ensign Lt. Jose Joaquin Moraga, who was second-in-command to California explorer, Commander Juan Bautista De Anza. When De Anza was called back to Spain, Moraga continued the California exploration. He founded the cities of San Jose and Moraga, as well as Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) in San Francisco, where he is buried at the foot of the altar. Mission Dolores is the oldest structure in the city of San Francisco.
Anita was passionate about education, art, music, gardening and crafts, and was immensely creative. She would help with a science fair project in one moment, while finding time to put together an award-winning Halloween costume in the next. A talented painter and artist, she instilled an appreciation for the creative arts in all her children.
Anita was well loved by all who knew her. She was active in her church, Saint Sebastian in Santa Paula, and was past President of the Young Ladies Institute (YLI). Despite her illness, she continued to help out as much as she could, organizing and calling church members for fundraisers. She loved spending time with her family and took a break from work to raise her four children. She was a devoted mother and avid supporter of all their endeavors. With boundless energy, she volunteered with nearly all of her children’s school functions and activities, including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, baseball, soccer, track, dance, and basketball. She was also a regional leader for the Girl Scouts of America for several years.
In 1995, she went back to work full-time for the Ventura County District Attorney’s office before retiring in 2005 with a total of 26 years of public service. After her retirement, she spent time with her retired husband, Frank, and her family, including her five beautiful grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her father Lorenzo and her mother Francis, her brothers Lloyd, Larry, and Andrew, as well as her eldest son, Jeffery Luna, who passed away in 2011. She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Frank Luna; her son, Craig Luna, and daughter-in-law, Eileen, of Sunnyvale, California; her daughter, Leslie Ogonowski, and her son-in-law, Matthew, of Ventura, California; and her youngest daughter, Kerry Jiroch, of Ventura, California. She is survived by her loving grandchildren; Stephen Jiroch, Daniel Jiroch, Matthew Ogonowski, Jr., Isabella Ogonowski, and Katherine Ogonowski. She is also survived by her brothers Johnny and Frank, and sisters Hortense Borras, Alice Guerrero, and Esther Marquez.
A rosary will be recited at 7pm, Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Saint Sebastian Catholic Church, 235 North Ninth Street, Santa Paula. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am, Thursday, December 10, 2015 also at Saint Sebastian Church with Father Pasquale Vuoso, C.R.I.C. Officiating. Committal and Interment will follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.
For map and directions to ceremony locations and to sign the family’s online guest book, share stories and post pictures please visit our website: www.santapaulafuneralhome.com and click on Anita’s name located below “Recent Obituaries”.
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Family Owned and Operated ROBERT REY GARCIA JR FUNERAL SVCS., Santa Paula, CA 805.229.7054
