Fernando Raul DePierris – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army

Fernando R. DePierris
March 23, 1939 – March 17, 2008
Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania and Cape Canaveral Florida

“Afterglow”
(Family Tribute)
I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one,
I’d like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
of happy times and laughing times
and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears, of those who
grieve, to dry before the sun
of happy memories that I leave
when life is done.
Your life was love and labor,
Your love for your family true,
You did your best for all of us,
We will always remember you.

On Monday, March 17, 2008 our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Fernando DePierris, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, entered Eternal Life – peacefully at home in Cape Canaveral, Florida,  one month after the diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer.

Lieutenant Colonel Fernando DePierris served 27 years in the US Army and National Guard as a helicopter pilot. He served three years in Vietnam. Upon his return he pursued and received his Doctorate of Law from the University of North Carolina. In 2004, Fernando retired from the Mechanicsburg Naval Depot with 20 years of outstanding service. His personal time was filled with his passion for Vespa Scooters, model ship building and his grandchildren.

Our beloved Fernando will always be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, friend and the World’s Best GRANDFATHER (OPA) ever. He will be missed by his wife, Renate; his daughters Bettina and Tatiana (Alabama); Dana, Tina and Sonja (Pennsylvania); his 12 grandchildren; and three brothers in Chile.

Funeral Information
To be announced at a future date, memorial services will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. His ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Fernando’s memory may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 7000, El Segundo California 90245 (www.PanCan.org) OR to Vitas Hospice, 4450 West Eau Gallie Boulevard, Suite 280, Melbourne Florida 32934.

DEPIERRIS, FERNANDO RAUL
LTC   US ARMY
VIETNAM

• DATE OF BIRTH: 03/23/1939
• DATE OF DEATH: 03/17/2008
• BURIED AT: SECTION 64  SITE 4545
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard