A much loved father, grandfather, brother and uncle, Albert E. Ferniza, 77, of Holbrook passed away on Oct. 20 at Ryan House in Phoenix. A Rosary will be held at 12:30 p.m. with the funeral service at 1 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 17, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Holbrook. There will be a reception following the service in the Catholic Family Center. Albert Espinoza Ferniza was born on April 8, 1941, in Morenci to the late Mary Ochoa Espinoza and Miguel Navarette Ferniza. In 1959, he joined the armed forces and he was assigned to the army base camp in Fort Ord, Calif. After graduating from special training in 1960, he was assigned to military police and deployed to Hawaii as a private. He was later employed by Santa Fe Railroad. In 1960, while in Hawaii, he became a very close friend of Elvis Presley. Both were stationed in Hawaii together and both were in self-defense classes. Albert had a very big passion for Elvis Presley after his service in the armed forces. Albert was survived by his three children, Darlene Donaldson, Theresa (Brent) Holmes and Albert Michael (Joann) Ferniza Jr.; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Lucia E. (Jorge) Ferniza and Lydia E. Ramirez; brothers, Mike E. Ferniza and Alex E. (Xochitl) Martinez; many nieces and nephews; and friends and family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary Espinoza Ferniza and Miguel Ferniza; and his sister Sylvia F. Garza and her son, Ray Garza. Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services handled the arrangements.
