Tilak Michael Fernando

Pijus Makarevicius

Pijus Makarevicius

Pijus Makarevicius

Nijole Fernando He was involved in Mother's Teresa's charity work. Photo was taken in Rome, Italy.

Pijus Makarevicius

Matt Richards I've only just heard of Michael's passing and I can't believe it, I'm just thankful this page has been set up by family to enable me to share my memories of him. I met him when I started working for Midland Bank (soon to become HSBC) in July 1998 at Great Portland Street branch. We worked together for 4 years and we became good work friends. He was a legend at that branch, all the customers knew and loved him, they'd ask for him and stand and chat for ages with him about all sorts, but often cricket or a trip to Lourdes. He was a character and it would be wrong of me to paint him as an absolute angel to work with at all times because he wasn't :) ...…..it would often occur he'd get into a strop or he'd show his disgruntlement at something the manager had asked him to do which he thought wasn't right or was impinging on his work and we'd laugh as the manager would ask him into his office to "have a word" with him, and when he'd come out he always came out smiling , it didn't bother him, he'd been there so long it was water off his back. Above all he was a really caring man who liked a laugh, worked really hard, really cared about his customers, loved and adored his Mum, loved his church, and also loved the occasional beer :) . We went through a lot at that branch, really good fun times with Children in Need days and some not so good and I always made a point of popping in when I could to say hello when I eventually left it, then when it closed a few years back it was great going back to see him and going to one of the nearby pubs and having a few more drinks with him on the day he finally retired. I'm only just so sad his retirement has been so cruelly cut short, he was too young to die. So farewell my good friend, thank you for the lovely memories, I'll always remember you mate whenever I'm walking through Soho, your manor. Cheers Matt x

Nijole Fernando Much loved son.

Valdemaras Makarevicius Much loved brother-in-law. Christmas in Lithuania.

Helena Sadler Michael, I will miss you dearly. I miss drinking tea together every morning outside Pret and watching the world go by. You taught me many lessons in life and always supported me. You had the biggest heart and never failed to cheer me up. Lots of love, Helena x x

Valdemaras Makarevicius Dear Michael, We are so proud and happy to be a part of your family. Last Christmas spent in Lithuania together in 2017. Rest in peace.

Pijus Makarevicius Michael, you have been and always will be an example for me of a true gentleman - you had a charming smile and a big heart to care for others. You thought me many lessons in life and I will be forever thankful for this. I am really grateful to have known you. Rest in peace.

DANUTE SKRABULIENE Michael will remain in our memory as pleasant,friendly,constantly smiling person.Thank God I had to know you.

Muhudu Ralla Michael is one of my Mum’s favourite cousins. My Mum told me that when she lost her Dad it was Michael’s family who stepped in and filled the gaps for her family and looked after my Mum and her siblings. I had the privilege of catching up with Michael and his sweet wife Nijole in New Zealand where we shared some fond memories of Sri Lanka. Michael told me that he remembers my Mum taking driving lessons and we joked and laughed. Nijole also touched my heart and we continued to stay in touch via Facebook. Michael is a true gentleman and a kind happy soul and you can see this in his radiant beautiful smile. Nijole and family, our deepest condolences for this very sad news. May you find peace and comfort in the wonderful memories he has left behind for all of us. Take care. Stay safe. With love from Namiko and family in Australia. ❤️💕

Aiste Sestokaite Michael was always smiling and shared his positivity with others, we will forever remember and love you. Sestokai

Jolanta Kaunienė Michael, mes tavęs niekada nepamiršime

Lolita Diana Babiliene Michael was so friendly, sincere, open-minded. It was only one perfect day we spent together in Fuengirola, Spain, but it seems we've been friends years ago... We'll miss you, Michael - Lolita&Raimundas, Lithuania.

Gabrielle Tavender Nijole, Michael and Ira loved get togethers. This is the birthday party for Nijole. If I am correct your family were there, except for your mother. This was a fabulous party, lots of wonderful memories. I love this picture which Chris took of you both. You were both so glamorous here and Ira loved you both so much, everyone loved the party. Wonderful and happy memories. You are both a wonderful wonderful couple. Michael you will be missed. Thank you for visiting Gran in hospital. You had a big heart to care for others. Keep watching over us Michael, send angels for Nijole to keep her safe. Now you are with Ira, hope you have found my gran. 🙏🏼 Sorry -cannot remember the date of the party. I know it was in January☺️

Shaul M Ezekiel Dear Mike , you will be sorely missed, it was a privilege working with you and A joy knowing you, we shared many stories about everything, many topics and many jokes and yes many many beers . RIP forever my friend. Shaul

Laksiri Fernando Michael with my father Lenny Fernando. This is his father's youngest brother.

Nijole Fernando At home, at work or anywhere he went - he always had his charming smile on the face. His smile was brightening the lives of all who saw it.

Nijole Fernando Lourdes was very important in his life. He worked there for the charity helping pilgrims. Ever since then, he kept coming back there every year with his family and friends.

Carly Curry Michael , although we didn’t work together for very long I knew instantly upon meeting you that I had gained a friend for life in you . Your kind , loving heart , tea drinking , beer loving ways will never be forgotten . Keep smiling down on us . We have lost a true gent . May you rest in peace . Sleep tight . Carly x

Miles Tomkins The one the only Michael Fernando! A true gentleman who was kind and caring to all!! Will really miss you mate. Keep smiling. Rest in peace x

Nijole Fernando Loving husband. We had the most incredible time together - full of love, laugh and pure happiness. My love, I miss you so much.

Nijole Fernando Michael gave a lot of his time serving his community. Photo was taken at the Our Lady of the Assumption & Saint Gregory Roman Catholic Church, Warwick Street, Soho.

Kim McLean Michael you were a true gentleman. The support and help you gave will forever be remembered. It was a pleasure to work with you. Keep smiling and walking. Rest in peace xx

Laksiri Fernando Michael and Nijole at a wedding in Sri Lanka.

Hirantha and Pretheeva Fernando New Plymouth 2011

Hirantha and Pretheeva Fernando New Plymouth 2011

Birute Razmaite Dringeliene Party in our little garden on August 7, 2018. Michael, we will always remember you that way. Happy and with a smile.Xx Birute ir Juozas

Hirantha and Pretheeva Fernando London 2015

Hirantha and Pretheeva Fernando Colombo 2014

Ayisat Alimi Dear Micheal, I pray you rest in perfect peace. It was an honour knowing you and working with you. I will forever cherish the stories you shared, I absolutely loved listening to them. You always smiled :) I will miss you, Ayisat xo

Rev. William Lo Michael, my brother in Christ, my brother Altar Server, I pray to our Lord God to send His Angels and Saints in singing Holy, Holy & Holy, to lead you to the true light for the eternal rest. Missing all the lovely old days when we altar serving together. Eternal rest, grant unto Michael O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Michael rest in peace. Amen

Rev. William Lo

Valdemaras Makarevicius Much loved brother-in-law and son-in-law.

Vilija Kvetkauskienė It was fun spending time with Michael. He was always happy and brightened everybody's day. Rest in peace Michael

Ana Maria Arjona Martin I was introduced to Michael many years ago here on the Costa del Sol. Since then he was like family. After his wedding with Nijole the four of us enjoyed many memorable moments, having fun and good times together, raising a glass or more with "Kupeta". We will never forget you Michael and miss your happy friendly Smile. Love Ana Maria and Robert

Shanika Anzsar I will always remember Michael for his huge smile along with the sparkle in his eye! He had a warm personality and enjoyed the company of others. Michael lived life to the full and made the best of any situation. My father is Michael's cousin and it was clear that Michael valued family. He endeavoured to keep in touch with us and offered to help where he could. We are grateful that Michael was one of the few people who travelled all the way to New Zealand from London for our wedding. He also attended celebrations we have had over the years. I am glad to have got to know Michael over the past fifteen years as well as his lovely wife Nijole. May his soul rest in peace.

Andreas Stumm I first met Michael in 1992 when I first came to London as a young chef. Michael introduced me to the London life. He was always a very smiley and positive person. We stayed in contact over the years and met up again when I returned to London with my now wife Lurdes. There are lots of lovely memories. Michael was the best man at my wedding. We had the privilege to get involved in Michael's and Nijole's wedding and in Michael's mum Ira 90th birthday. Michael you will be missed. It was a pleasure to have you as a friend. Lurdes and Andreas

Ona Jankaauskienė Gaila,kad išeina visi tie kurie niekada nebijojo būti savimi kuris dar galėjo padaryti daug gerų darbų .Buvo šiltas,, plačios širdies Žmogus.Ramaus amžino poilsio.

Godwin and Nancy To Our happy memories with Michael and family in HolyLand

Hirantha and Pretheeva Fernando This photo portrays three generations of the Kumarawattege Clan. Taken in 2011 in New Plymouth NZ.

Chris To RIP Michael. You, Nijole and Ira have been so kind and generous to me and my family. I’m really sad that we didn’t get to meet up after the lockdown as we had hoped. You will be missed by everybody for your smile and positivity and you were always so caring to the people around you. Here are some memories of the London 2012 Paralympics when we all went together with grandma that fun summer’s evening in Stratford. Chris.

Alf Lockyer I first met Michael in the late 1970s. It developed over a period of time. I took to calling in at the ‘’Doubles Bar’’ at the Comedy Inn/ Hotel? I can’t remember the name after work for a ‘quick one’. Gradually a regular gang started to meet up. It included Tommy Berry, Harry Daudrey, Peter White, there was a Canadian chap, a wood importer. I can’t remember his name and a few others. We didn’t always meet on a regular day it just happened if and when any of us were there. It just seemed to happen that Michael, Tommy and I and occasionally Harry started to meet fairly regularly, and our friendship developed from there. Michael, Harry and I were called ‘Three Musketeers of Soho’ by the locals. I found some old diaries and have a note of going to Germany with Michael on 28th April 1989. So that must have been when the photo was taken. We were there for five days over the May Bank Holiday. Michael and I went again some years later after Werner retired and was taken ill out there. We went out there to see him. He might remember the date. According to my diaries Michael and I went to Crete for a week in October 2001, and Madrid for a long weekend, Friday to Monday in June 2002. I can’t find anything after that although I do remember going to Fuengirola on at least two times with him. But I can’t trace the dates. We also went to Portugal, but I can’t remember when. As you know I met up with Michael, Tommy et al, many times over the years. I used to meet them Sunday lunchtime, after Mass, in the Grotto Club, Tommy can tell you all about that. Also, ask Tommy about when Michael and Harry wheeled him home from Trafalgar Square in a supermarket trolley New Years eve. We were just very good fairly close friends for many years. When my wife passed away – Michael was the first one to support me. I will miss him. There’s nothing else to say sorry.

Harini Gunawardene I only met (Uncle) Michael a few times but had heard so much about him from my father (his cousin Hirantha), and sisters in London. I met him when I visited London in 2015 where he kindly shouted me a ticket to my favourite show for my birthday (pictured afterwards here). We were also privileged to have him at our wedding in NZ, having been one of the only cousin-uncles to travel to attend all three of our family weddings, with Nijole. Pictured here after the ceremony. He was great fun at the reception and after party and everyone who met him found him friendly and great fun. Sad to hear of his sudden passing and wishing him peace. Love and condolences to Nijole and all his loved ones. Harini and Ashok.

Hirantha and Pretheeva Fernando Michael's Hippy Birthday Party 2009

Nijole Fernando My love, No one had ever made me laugh and smile the way you did. Each and every day you made me feel loved and very special. Thank you for the wonderful and beautiful times we spent together.

Tommy Berry First I met Michael at Warwick Street church 'Grotto Club' bar. Thank you for organising all of my holidays overseas. Thank you for being a wonderful friend for over 40 years. Rest in peace, my friend Fernando.

Nijole Fernando Frank Sinatra - My Way And now the end is near And so I face the final curtain My friend, I'll say it clear I'll state my case of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full I've travelled each and every highway And more, much more than this I did it my way Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption I planned each chartered course Each careful step along the by-way And more, much more than this I did it my way Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way I've loved, I've laughed, and cried I've had my fill, my share of losing And now, as tears subside I find it all so amusing To think I did all that And may I say, not in a shy way Oh no, oh no, not me I did it my way For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself then he has naught To say the things he truly feels And not the words of one who kneels The record shows I took the blows And did it my way Yes, it was my way

Anuran Wickramasinghe The first time I met Michael, 1984 at Aunty Ira's Home, I was introduced to him as ''my Baby''. We had a laugh about it then and ever since we met him and Nijole, we had a laugh!! Great sense of humour and a wonderful friendly couple. On Friday I will celebrate Michael's life, charitable and faithful to God. We will always remember that babyish smile.

Lina Kazimieraityte Dear Michael, I am very grateful for the opportunity to meet you. I will always remember you with a big smile on your face. Also, thanks to Nijole, I had a chance to hear so many amazing stories about you. You are real example to all of us of how to spread the love around ourselves. Thank you! Rest in peace.

Romas Kazimieraitis ,,Didumas to, kas mumyse iš meilės auga ir gerumo...Dvasia ir kūnas mūsų amžinumo...'' Dėkingi likimui, kad turėjom galimybę susipažinti ir pabendrauti su tokiu nuostabiu Žmogumi - Michael. Dėkojam, Michael už Tavo nuostabią šypseną, už skleidžiamą šilumą, meilę, gerumą... Tu visuomet išliksi mūsų širdyse... Kazimieraičiai