Alice C. Pereira
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Funeral information
Funeral Service: Friday, July 09, 2010 10:00 AM St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Fresno, CA Visitation: Thursday, July 08, 2010 04:00 P.M. to 6:00 PM at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Fresno, CA Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery, Fresno, CA  Alice Pereira Memorial Tribute VideoBiographyAlice C. Pereira, age 94, passed away on Sunday, July 4, 2010, at the Golden Living-Hillcrest nursing facility in Fresno, CA. She was born Alice Cardoza in Fresno on December 29, 1915 to Joseph and Leopoldena Cardoza, immigrants from Faja Grande, Flores, and Azores Islands. She was the first in her family to be born in the United States. She attended American Colony Elementary School and graduated from Washington Union High School. She worked on the family dairy farm and later at the Danish Creamery.In 1943, Alice married Joseph V. Pereira of Kerman, CA. They settled in the Easton area where they raised a family while Joe partnered with Alice's brother Bill in a dairy and farming business. In later years, she worked at Sparkle Cleaners and at Berkeley's department store on the Fulton Mall. She maintained the ranch property through rental. Throughout her life, Alice was an active member of her community. She was a member of the PTA at both American Union Elementary School and Washington Union High School. She served as a 4-H leader, on the St. Alphonsus Altar Society, the Election Board and joined other St. Jude members serving lunch to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at WUHS. Alice was most active in the Portuguese community. In her youth, she was crowned Queen of the 2nd CPDES celebration. Alice was also a member of the following organizations: SPRSI (now LUSO), where she was Grand President from 1988-89, UPPEC (now Portuguese Fraternal Societies of America); Society of St. Anthony, ISMM, Cabrillo Club, CPDES and Eagles. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Joe and her three brothers, Joseph, John (who died in infancy in the Azores) and William (Bill). She is survived by her three daughters: Barbara and her husband Peter, Dorothy and her husband Pete of Fresno, and Virginia Kollewe of Culver City, CA. She has five grandchildren: Christopher Stetsko, Brian Stetsko and his wife Michelle, of Fresno; Jeanmarie Maxwell and her husband Richard of Petaluma, CA; Theresa Kollewe of Culver City, CA; and Christine Haruta and her husband George of Stockton, CA. Three great-grandchildren, Melody Stetsko of Fresno and Kirstie and Kevin Haruta of Stockton. Visitation will begin at 4:00PM and a Rosary will take place at 6:00PM at St. Alphonsus Church in Fresno, CA. on Thursday, July 8th. A funeral Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Jerry Amerando at St. Alphonsus on Friday, July 9th at 10:00AM. Alice will be interned next to her husband at Holy Cross Cemetery. A reception will follow at Pardini's Restaurant in Fresno. Donations may be made in her memory to Povarello House. Special thanks go to the kind and caring staff at Golden Living-Hillcrest, to her recent caregivers, Sue Norris and Sharon Girtz, and for the special attention given to her by her sister-in-law Sarah Cardoza-Cabral and friend Karen Lamb. Alice will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She will be missed but the love, wisdom and strength she gave her family will be cherished by all. |
