Mercedes Fernández Rodrigues was born September 14, 1914 in Barcelona - Spain. Her mother, Antonia Fernández (1989-1981), was born in Lorca Murcia (Spain). Mercedes studied in the nun's school of San Vicente de Paulo in Barcelona. In 1935 she married Antonio Orejuela Pavón (1912-1936), lieutenant and naval aviator in the armed forces of Spain. She lost her husband October 9, 1935 and there were no children from the marriage.