Marlins pitcher José Fernández was remembered during his funeral today and Miami's farewell was heartbreaking. The city wept for the 24-year-old who died in a boating accident last weekend. The overwhelming sadness extends to the two friends who shared the same fate, and for his grieving mom, grandmother and pregnant girlfriend, Maria Arias. Here's all we know about the mom of his baby-to-be, plus some moving pictures from the funeral services.
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José Fernández's funeral was held three days after his tragic death.
It seemed that the whole city of Miami stopped to say good-bye to Joseíto, as his Latino fans called the Cuban pitcher. He was considered one of the best pitchers in the MLB. Restaurants closed and people were allowed to leave work early. It was a fitting farewell for the 24-year-old man who quickly became a hometown hero. His life was cut short in the early hours of Sunday, September 25, in a boating accident in Miami Beach.
Among the grieving was María Arias, his girlfriend and mother of his unborn daughter.
Five days before his death, Fernández posted a picture of Arias and her growing belly on Instagram. The couple had kept their relationship private. Their romance was a few weeks old when they discovered the pregnancy.
Initially, the press thought the pregnant lady in the photo was his ex fiancée Carla Mendoza, a former Marlins Cheerleader. It was Mendoza herself who cleared up the situation.
Carla Mendoza and José Fernández dated for three years and were engaged until this spring.
According to some family members, they had disagreed on when to get married. Soon after calling it quits, he started dating Arias. However, it's obvious that she loved him very much. Here, her heartbreaking words on Instagram:
My deepest love goes out to those who saw José as more than an athlete, but as a passionate, raw human being. The heartbreak is unbearable. There was so much more to him than anyone could even begin to understand. I'm fortunate enough to have loved and be loved by José, and his family, for over 3 crazy beautiful years. Thank you so much to everyone who's reached out to me, it truly means a lot.
Nothing will make this time easy for anyone and if you do one thing today, let it be that you tell those close to you how much you love them. Not one day will pass by that I don't think about him or love him. José never went one moment without knowing how much support and love he had from those close to him. My heart goes out to María, as she is expecting his child. Please honor Jose's memory by respecting his daughter and her mother as I'm sure this is all too painful for her as well.
Arias has the support of his family, friends and the Marlins organization
Several celebrities, including the duo already pledged to support José's family.
They were expecting a baby girl and he looked so happy.
This photo was taken minutes after Fernández discovered they were expecting a baby girl. Her dad posted a video on Facebook of the sweet moment.
To make matters worse, there are rumors that Fernández was very upset the night he died and had asked some of his friends to go out with him on the boat and blow off some steam.
Miami resident Will Bernal revealed that he tried to stop his friend Eddy Rivero from going out with Fernández.
This text conversation is too sad for words. Bernal is not the only one saying that Fernández was unhappy that night. The Miami Herald has mentioned that he was fighting earlier that evening with his girlfriend.
One of his best friends on the team, outfielder Marcell Ozuna, said: "That night I told him, 'Don't go out.' Everybody knew he was crazy about that boat and loved being out on the water. I told him I couldn't go out that night because I had the kids and my wife waiting for me … He told me if I didn't hear from him by 10 a.m. (Sunday) to call him and wake him up so he could get back to the ballpark on time for the game. I told him, 'Yeah no problem, I'll call you.' I woke up Sunday and that's when I found out. I cried and cried."
Miami is in deep mourning and you can feel it.
Everywhere in Miami people have been talking about the accident and Fernández's untimely passing. There are makeshift tributes and some unexpected ones like signs on the highways.
People have also been honoring the lives of Emilio Jesus Macias and Eduardo Rivero, the two men who were with Fernández that night.
The fans went out to support the Marlins and José's family.
The funeral motorcade departed from Marlins Park at 2:16 p.m.–a tribute to Fernandez's jersey number (16). It then stopped at the church Ermita de la Caridad, the patron virgin of Cuba, and then there was a public viewing at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Miami.
His beloved abuela is devastated.
While it's been sad to see his teammates and fans cry, there are no words to describe the pain that Fernández's mom and abuelita must be feeling. They were his whole world and often called them the loves of his life. His grandmother Olga had to be held several times during the funeral.
José Fernández is already a legend.
In little league games across Florida, many kids paid their respects to Fernández. In many Latino homes, his story was repeated with awe and sadness. The story of the boy who threw himself at the mercy of the ocean, three times, until reaching a land that would allow him to leave Cuba permanently. He made it to México at 15 and became the best on his field with the same determination.
I can't imagine the deep pain his mom Maritza, his abuela and the women who loved him are feeling. As a mamá, I will always be grateful for the incredible role model he was and is for our children.
Rest in peace and gracias, Joseíto.
