Miami (December 26, 2007) – It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we inform you that Mrs. Marylou Fitzgibbons Fernández, the mother of Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle, passed away this morning, Wednesday, December 26th 2007, after a long battle against cancer.

Mrs. Fernández, 79, was born in Chicago but was a long time resident of Miami-Dade County.  She was pre-deceased by her husband and the father of the State Attorney, Carlos Benito Fernández.  She is survived by her daughters Kathy and Helenita Fernández (pre-deceased by husband Charles Bacher), and sons Steven Carlos Fernández (daughter-in-law Bianca) and Fitz Carlos Fernández, and grandchildren, Evan Carlos Rundle, Justin Robert Rundle, Carla Daniella Fernández, Pearla Bianca Fernández, Krystan Stefanny Fernández, Julia Marie Bacher, and Robert Charles Bacher.

Mrs. Fernández, who obtained her Master’s of Education Degree at the University of Miami, worked as an elementary school teacher for the Miami-Dade Public Schools system until her retirement.

“As a teacher, my mother always believed that people could create their future.  She would often say that if you believed in yourself, the future was yours,” commented State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle.  “I’ve always known – my mother was right.”

Services will be held this Friday, December 28th, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, at Caballero-Rivero-Woodlawn Funeral Home located at 3344 S.W. 8th Street, in Miami.  The Reverend Monsignor Agustín Román will pray the rosary at 6:00 PM at the funeral home.

On Saturday, December 29th, a mass will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church, 7270 S.W. 120th Street, Miami, at 10:00 AM to celebrate the life of Mrs. Fernández.