Annette Marie Fagundes

Annette Marie Fagundes, loving daughter, trusted sister, devoted wife, caring mother, doting grandmother, and beloved friend, left this world peacefully with family and friends by her side on May 20, 2024.

Annette is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Edmundo Fagundes. Together, they raised their two children, Angela (Fagundes) Langlands and Dominic Fagundes in Fremont. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Monica Medina, 4 grandchildren: Xavier and Sasha (Anouk) Langlands and Katya and Roman Fagundes and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Born in Fremont, Annette’s welcoming spirit was shaped by the home in which she grew up. Always with a troop of friends in toe, Annette was known for her generosity and willingness to share her last cookie while welcoming more and more neighborhood friends into games and activities. Annette built life-long friendships in her parents’ faith-filled home and as a student at Holy Spirit School and then Notre Dame High School in San Jose.

As a lifelong member of the Holy Spirit Parish, Annette was instrumental in helping to revive the Portuguese festival honoring Queen St. Isabella of Portugal whom she represented as Queen in 1967. Friendships built as a student, parishioner, parent, and festival coordinator flourished throughout her life.

As the story goes, the most formative years of Annette’s life were during high school. From school mascot to co-creator of the infamous (and fictitious) student Penny York, Annette cultivated relationships, furthered her passion for political discourse, and fostered a creativity that was already budding deep inside. The lasting friendships she made at Notre Dame would transcend life’s challenges.

The generosity that Annette observed in the home where she grew up was replicated in her adult life by her commitment to community service.  She was a valued volunteer at Holy Spirit Church, Notre Dame High School, Golden Gate Boys Choir, and HERS Breast Cancer Foundation. Her hard work as a volunteer was matched only by her ability to ‘think outside the box’ and assist each organization in reinventing events they sponsored while helping them to stay focused on their mission and in some cases, enhance it.

After taking interior design courses at Ohlone College, Annette founded an interior design firm focusing on both residential and commercial projects. As her prominence in the industry grew, she took great pride in creating beauty for her clients, particularly as “Decorator to the Dead” serving mortuaries, mausoleums, cemeteries, and churches throughout the Bay Area. Her love of art and design was matched by a passion for music and her Portuguese heritage. From a young girl, she was a member of many Portuguese fraternal societies and was proud to influence her son’s singing with the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers.

Ever the hospitable hostess, Annette was eager to have a house full of family and friends even while battling the illnesses that took her from this world far too soon. Annette leaves a legacy of fun, creativity, courage of her convictions, passion, and deep love.

Funeral services for Annette begin with a Vigil on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 6:30 pm at Berge-Pappas-Smith Chapel of the Angels located at 40842 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538. Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 10 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, located at 37588 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536.

In celebration of Annette’s joy in everlasting life, please dress in bright and happy colors for both services. In lieu of flowers, Annette requested that donations be made to Notre Dame High School, San Jose; Golden Gate Boys Choir; or a charity of your choice.