Johnny V. Hernandez

Johnny Villagomez Hernandez, 78, of Tempe, Arizona, passed away peacefully in the late afternoon of Wednesday, August 15, 2018, due to complications from kidney disease. Johnny was born in Miami, Arizona, on July 24, 1940, to Teodoro and Eutimia Hernandez. Johnny was the eighth of eleven children, the youngest son. His family moved to the Valley in the 1940’s, eventually settling in Mesa. Johnny attended Alma Elementary, Mesa Junior High, and graduated from Mesa High School, Class of 1959. After graduation, Johnny enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Hancock as an electricians’ mate until his honorable discharge in 1963. After being discharged from the Navy, Johnny held a number of jobs until hiring on with the U.S. Postal Service where he worked for 44 years. While working at the Post Office, Johnny attended Arizona State University, earning a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1973. Johnny held many positions at the Post Office, working his way up from unloading trucks to management before retiring in 2011. Johnny had an enormous love for life and good times. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with his family and friends; he enjoyed traveling to anywhere he was invited. He was also a very good dancer and loved to sing karaoke before karaoke was cool. Johnny was a hard worker with a great work ethic who imparted many life skills to his children. He never let hard work get in the way of a good time or a teaching moment and Johnny set the bar high for his children to follow. He loved to tinker and enjoyed solving a complex electrical problem. As often as possible, Johnny would don his favorite do-rag and take his Harley out for a ride. He lived by his own rules, his own clock, his own rhythm, moving at his own pace like a leaf in the wind. It cannot be overstated: Johnny loved to have a good time. He was, by any measure, the life of the party. Anyone who ever met him always had a kind word to describe Johnny. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. Johnny is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Encarnacion and Anastacio, and four sisters, Maria, Guadalupe Esquer, Adriana Lucearo and Rachel Pollack. He is survived by his brother, Joe, and three sisters, Mary Cowger, Frances Hernandez and Roberta Villareal, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his former wife, Ramona Lee, his four children, Marci Kramer (Scott), Daniel (Susan), Miguel (Dana) and Mia, and nine grandchildren, Katie, Joe, Adam, Olivia, Kruz, Reese, Remy, Dayvis and Carter. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 pm at Richardson Funeral Home, 2621 South Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona. A Funeral Mass will follow on Thursday, August 23, 2018, at 9:30 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 2121 South Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona. Interment will follow the Mass at Double Butte Cemetery, 2505 West Broadway Road, Tempe, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions in Johnny's name be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85014. Richardson Funeral Home, Tempe, Arizona is compassionately serving the family.

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Visitation

Wednesday August 22nd, 2018

5:00pm - 8:00pm

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Recitation of the Rosary

Wednesday August 22nd, 2018

7:00pm

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Interment following funeral service

Thursday August 23rd, 2018

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Mass of Christian Burial

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church

Thursday August 23rd, 2018

9:30am

Tempe, AZ