Jonathan "Fernie" A. Fernau, 23, of Rochester passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2023 after a courageous battle with Neuroblastoma.

Born in Taunton on October 18, 2000, he was the son of Tonya Lavigne-Joyce and her husband Sean of Rochester and Christopher J. Fernau and his wife Roberta of Lakeville.

While in Taunton, he attended Elizabeth Pole Elementary School and Martin Middle School. He played for Taunton Pop Warner Football, Taunton East and West Little League Baseball, YMCA Basketball and The Boys and Girls Club Floor Hockey.

He then moved to Rochester in middle school where he attended Old Rochester Regional Junior High School and played for the Old Rochester Youth Football Team Bulldogs. He went on to graduate in 2020 from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School where he studied Machine and Tool and played four years of High School football.

While in high school, he worked as a machinist for D & D Precision of Middleboro. After graduating high school, Jonathan worked as a technician at East Coast Fire & Ventilation of Wareham and then as an installer with Seaview Home Theater of Rochester.

He enjoyed country music, going to concerts, going to and watching the Bruins and the Pittsburg Steelers as well as hanging out with his friends, having bonfires and building Lego sets. He especially loved working to improve his truck and was a member of the Mass Diesel Truck Group. He also loved traveling with his family to Aruba, Cruising to the Bahamas, sightseeing in Miami, Las Vegas, and Nashville as well as visiting his friend in Georgia.

In addition to his parents and stepparents, Jonathan is survived by his brother, Christopher Lavigne of Newport News, VA; his longtime girlfriend, Kylie Silva of Rochester; his stepsister, Madison Aguiar of Fall River; his maternal grandparents, James and Lidwina (Pimental) Lavigne of Taunton; his paternal grandmother, Patricia A. (Dupuis) Fernau of Carver; step-Grandparents, William and Sheryl Joyce of Rochester. His aunts Jamie Lavigne of Taunton; Kathy Silva of Taunton; Uncles Dennis Fernau Jr of Carver; Steve and Jackie Fernau of East Bridgewater, and step Aunt Shannon Joyce of Rochester and Uncle Robert and Andrea Joyce of Rochester, A Nephew Christopher John (CJ) Guilmette of Fall River and many cousins and friends. He is predeceased by his paternal grandfather, the late Dennis G. Fernau; step-grandparents Joyce and Ronald Santagati Sr and Ronald Santagati Jr. and his good friend, Paul Gagnon.

Funeral from the Russell & Pica Funeral Home, 17 Main St., (RT 105) Lakeville on Saturday November 25th at 7:30AM thence to St. Anthony Church, 126 School St., Taunton where a funeral mass will be celebrated for the repose of his soul at 9:30AM. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Taunton. Calling hours in the Russell & Pica Funeral Home on Friday, November 24th from 3:00PM-7:00PM. At Jonathan's request, Relatives and friends are urged to wear Flannel Clothing to the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Jonathan Fernau to support Neuroblastoma research and patient care at dana-farber.org/gift or at:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

P.O. Box 849168

Boston, MA 02284