It is with very heavy hearts that the Fernandez and Merchant families announce the unexpected passing of their beloved sister, mother, aunt, cousin, and friend Louisa O. Merchant (nee Fernandez) on September 13th at the Long Island Jewish Hospital. Louisa was the last of 6 children to bless the holy union of Ambassador William B. Fernandez and Laura A. Emmons-Fernandez on September 1st, 1960, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Louisa passed in New York where she spent most of her life doing an excellent job raising her 3 young men and spreading love to all she encountered. To know her was to know LOVE, to share in LAUGHTER, and to LIVE life to the fullest trusting in HIS Holy name. We will all most definitely miss her moral support, her teasing, and her laughter. “Ouize”, as she was affectionately called by her friends and family here on this Earth, we love you dearly, but God who loves you more has called HIS child home. HE has picked one of HIS most beautiful roses out of the garden. We are comforted in knowing that heaven has gained a guardian angel. Au revoir Cherie!
Louisa was predeceased by her husband Sam Merchant, her father Ambassador Fernandez, her brother Bill, her mother Laura, and her sisters Lorraine and Elaine.
She leaves to mourn her passing, her siblings Yvette Yaidoo (Harrison), Gaby Fernandez (Alison), her children Tracy Chukumah, Courtney, and Kimani Merchant, and her brother-in-law Ambassador Edward L Dunn Jr. Louisa had no daughters of her own but loved her nieces as hers – Rushie (James), Eliane (EJ), Pushie, and Jasmine. Her nephews Liam (Sabra), Shaka (Jrawin), Manjah (Tara), Madi and Taji Fernandez also mourn her loss.
She also leaves to mourn untimely death her sister-friends Omo and Massa David, Ciatta Diggs, Stanita Garber, her friend William “Feweh” Sherman and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will miss her dearly.
Anyone who desires to donate can make a deposit to the following account in the name on Alexander U. Fernandez at US Bank Routing Number 091000022 A/C # 104797860889
Services will be held at St. Mark’s AME Church, 9518 Northern Blvd, Flushing, New York 11372 on October 1st, 2022.
Viewing and Wake Keeping – 8:30 to 9:00 am
Funeral Services – 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Rooms may be reserved at the Home2Suites 620 US Highway 1 & 9 South l Newark, NJ | 07114
in Newark for Merchant Funeral by 9/23/22 using the link below:
Contacts:
Alexander U. Fernandez 763-244-4469
Kimani Merchant 646-818-5779
Eliane Dunn-Johnson240-848-1615
