Vera Fernald

Mrs. Vera Fernald, of Saucier, was born in Gulfport on Dec. 1, 1931 to Alfred and Margaret Kellogg. Mrs. Fernald is preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Margaret Kellogg, her former husband Peter Kozakiewicz, and her husband Cdr. Joseph A. Fernald. On Feb. 3, Mrs. Fernald passed after a short illness. She was 83 years of age. Mrs. Fernald lived a full and interesting life. After attending Perkinston High School, Mrs. Fernald moved to Connecticut to be with her older sister, Thelma. While there, she worked as a corporate assistant at Burndy, Inc., in Milford, Connecticut, and raised three children. In 1969, a separation resulted in Mrs. Fernald moving back to be with her family in Mississippi. The timing for Mrs. Fernald’s return home was not inauspicious – just days after Hurricane Camille ravaged the Gulf Coast. Initially, the family lived with Mrs. Fernald’s mother and father, Alfred and Margaret Kellogg. Shortly after the storm, Mrs. Fernald got a job at Entex, from which she retired in the early 1990s. In 1970 Mrs. Fernald married the love of her life, Joseph Fernald, who passed away in 2011. Together, the couple traveled around the country, visiting friends, family and national landmarks along the way. Mrs. Fernald also traveled with her good friend and fellow artist Shirley Sweeney. The women belonged to the Gulf Coast Artists Association, which showcases art throughout the Coast. Some of her watercolor and oil paintings won Blue Ribbons. She is survived by children Paul and Sue Kozakiewicz of San Francisco, California, Peter and Mary Beth Kozakiewicz of Nashville, Tennessee, son Perry Kozakiewicz of Saucier, Mississippi, stepdaughter Barbara Venuti and her husband Joe, of Bedford, Massachusetts, and stepson Joseph A. Fernald, Jr. and Wanda Fernald of Brookhaven, Mississippi. She is also survived by her brothers Ernest McCabe of Gulfport and Alfred Kellogg of Saucier, and sisters Thelma Hock of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Carolyn Braden of Saucier, Mississippi. Ms. Braden took extraordinary steps to care for her sister after she was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Mrs. Fernald also has numerous nieces and nephews and 9 grandchildren, as well as life-long friends throughout the country. Mrs. Fernald was a member of the Ramsay Memorial Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes all donations in Mrs. Fernald’s name be made to the Ramsay Memorial Methodist Church, located at 12472 Dedeaux Rd., Gulfport, Ms. 39503. There will be a public visitation at Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15452 O'Neal Road, Gulfport, MS 39503, on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Service follows at 6:30 p.m. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com