Funeral Set For N.J. Woman Who Died Napping In Car Between Jobs
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A funeral will take place for a New Jersey woman who died while napping in her car between jobs.
The service for 32-year-old Maria Fernandes will take place Friday at the Evans-Gordon Funeral Home in Newark. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery in Linden.
Friends helped raise the money for the funeral for the woman who worked many jobs.
Elizabeth police believe Fernandes pulled over for a nap after a shift at a Dunkin Donuts in Linden. She also worked at Dunkin Donuts in Harrison and Newark.
WCBS 880's Levon Putney spoke with those who knew Fernandez and said she was a kind, giving person.
Armando Gonzalez drove her mini SUV so much that she gave him a set of keys.
"You know she was just great like that. Not really a bad word I can say about her. She was hard working. She was giving to anybody that needed something," he said.
When he needed a job, he said his 32-year-old friend helped him get one with her at the Harrison Dunkin Donuts location.
Her old boyfriend, Richard Culhane, said she took in his three children like they were her own.
"Very hard working, caring, loving, generous," he said. "I got custody of my kids now I give her all the credit for it."
Police were called to the scene on August 25 after an employee of a nearby Wawa convenience store noticed the woman's body inside the vehicle.
Police say it appears Fernandes was overcome by a deadly mixture of carbon monoxide and fumes from an overturned gasoline container.
Police are awaiting toxicology test results.
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