CANACONA
Jesus Antonio Fernandes (44), the elder son of former minister Isidore Fernandes, passed away after suffering a massive heart attack in Lisbon-Portugal on Wednesday.
Jesulee Fernandes, as he was fondly called, was a celebrity chef and a well-known figure in Lisbon for authentic Goan cuisine. He ran a Goan restaurant ‘Jejus e Goes’ in Lisbon.
When contacted, a heartbroken Isidore Fernandes said Jesulee was hale and hearty when he called to wish him on his birthday and also spoke at length to his mother, Pauline, besides wishing them both on their wedding anniversary on April 4.
“He spoke to us jovially throughout our conversation. Sometime between 12.30 and 12.45 am on Thursday, we received at least 4-5 calls from Jesulee’s phone, and someone else was crying at the other end and the calls were getting cut,” said Fernandes.
“I took my wife’s phone and the caller broke the shocking news that my son passed away after suffering a massive heart attack.”
“Jesulee had celebrated his 44th birthday on January 9. He had gone to Portugal as a teen, but he was very attached to us and we were also concerned about him because he was staying alone. He was running a successful restaurant in Lisbon serving authentic Goan food and masala.
Jesulee had last visited Goa just before the Covid lockdown. Efforts are being made to bring the body to Goa, which is likely to be delayed due to Holy Week celebrations. The family is expecting to receive the body on Monday or Tuesday.
While the youngest son lives with his family in Goa, Isidore’s second son is settled in London and his daughter/son-in-law are in Austria.
