Maria C. Fernandez Castro Obituary
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Maria C. Fernandez Castro (Portsmouth, Virginia), who passed away on November 3, 2025, at the age of 91, leaving to mourn family and friends. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Maria C. Fernandez Castro to show support.
She was predeceased by: her parents, Mercedes Fernandez and Belen Collazo; her husband Angelo Castro; her children, Howard Thomas Jr., Mary Thomas and Deborah Thomas-Gordon; her granddaughter Tammy Marie Thomas; her grandmother Lizzie Pearl Moseley of Asbury Park, NJ.; Howard Thomas Sr..
She is survived by: her great grandchild Sanaa Harris; her cousin Jessie; her children, Eugene Thomas (Wanda) of Suffolk, VA and Caroline Thomas-Shannon of Neptune, NJ; her sisters, Petra "Peachie" Taylor of Neptune, NJ and Rose Marie "Rosie" Irons-Johnson of Romulus, MI; her grandchildren, Talisha Thomas (Marc), Howard Spencer Thomas, Jessica Shannon, Duane Thomas (Alesha), Thomas Shannon, Ashley Gordon-Hernandez (Danny) and Jessie Shannon (Quilvio); and her sister-in-law Rafaela Figueroa DePagan of Puerto Rico. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and many dear friends.
Viewing was held on Thursday, November 13th 2025 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Metropolitan Funeral Service (5605 Portsmouth Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23701). A celebration of life was held on Friday, November 14th 2025 at 11:00 AM at the same location. During the pandemic, her devoted son Eugene courageously traveled to Puerto Rico—against all odds and health warnings—to bring his mother safely back to Virginia.
