The world lost a bright light in the world. Derek Hernandez had an enthusiastic energy and a charismatic personality. His curious nature was driven by a love of life and a desire to better understand the world around him. His work ethic and depth of faith inspired those around him, and you felt better after talking to him. He loved being an uncle, a brother, and a son, and often shared that those honored identities gave him purpose to be better, to do better, and to work for something bigger than himself. His open-mindedness and quickness to find the humor in circumstances were contagious, as nothing was off-limits in conversation, and questions back and forth were welcomed to help grow his understanding of the world and you walked away learning something as well. That combination of honesty, humility, and humor is rare in this world and something his family and friends will miss dearly.

This is to help his loved ones with funeral costs, and thank you so much for being a part of his life.