Father

Born: 09/01/1937
Died: 02/16/2026 in Portugal
Interred: Gate of Heaven, Burlington

Fernando Heleno was born on September 1, 1937, in Portugal, during a time marked by war and hardship. Fernando was the cherished son of Daniel da Cruz Heleno and Maria de Jesus. When his father passed away in 1951, his mother faced the heartbreaking reality of being unable to care for all her children on her own, so she made the difficult decision to send Fernando to live with his Aunt Augusta.
At the age of 30, Fernando married the love of his life, Maria Ventura Pinho, they made the courageous decision to leave Portugal and immigrate to Canada in search of a better life. Fernando’s sister Maria and her husband Etelvino, who were already living in Canada helped Fernando and Maria settle into their new home during this important transition.
In Canada, Fernando spent many years working at Maple Leaf Foods, where he earned a reputation for his strong work ethic, reliability, and dedication.
Fernando was a proud and loving father to his three children: Maria (Luis Santos), Fernando (Anita Nejasmic), and Elizabeth (Nick Covelli). Fernando was committed to providing his family the opportunities he himself did not have growing up.
After retiring at the age of 65, Fernando embraced the next chapter of his life. The very day after he retired, he began babysitting his only granddaughter at the time, Emily, a role he took on with great joy and pride. This marked the beginning of what would become the greatest happiness of his life. Fernando’s joy only grew as his family grew, he adored his grandchildren Emily, Isabella, Michael, Mia, Noah, Daniel, Sofia, and Gabriella and treasured every moment spent with them. In his later years, Fernando found peace in life’s simple pleasures, daily walks and cherished time with his family. Fernando passed away on February 16, 2026, at the age of 88. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.