Teresinha Pedreiro

Teresinha Pedreiro, 68 went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, July 13, 2015 in Fresno, California but lived the majority of her life in Hanford, California. Teresinha was born on December 5, 1946 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Sebastiao & Emiliana da Silva which she was one of six siblings. While growing up, she attended an "all girls" Catholic boarding school in Brazil up to the age of 14.

Joe & Teresinha were married nearly 49 years. Joe M. Pedreiro from Pico, Acores married Teresinha on Christmas Eve on December 24, 1966 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before immigrating to the U.S. in 1970 where together, they raised 4 children; Joe, (twins) Tony & Maria Ines and Maria de Lourdes (Mary Lou).

Teresinha battled a life-long illness but never let the illness take away her beautiful outlook on life. She always placed her faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and his Blessed Mother Mary, while showing her 4 children to do the same. She prayed the rosary daily and taught all her children the importance of the power of prayer and showed them by her prayer life example, how to persevere in their personal trials. She truly believed in the motto “the family that prays together, stays together.”

Teresinha had many gifts, but her strongest was her gift of writing. Over the span of her lifetime she wrote numerous beautiful poems, songs and personal prayers which inspired many and which she freely shared with others. She was also known to "whip up" a poem or song at the last minute for a particular occasion, like a death in the family or a wedding. Another interesting ability she had was the gift for memorizing dates and phone numbers. If you asked her what feast date for a particular Saint, she could tell you or if you lost someone's phone number, she always knew it by heart. She was teased by her kids, saying mom had a "mental telephone Rolodex" in her brain.

Teresinha also had a natural thirst for learning. She rarely met a stranger she couldn't make into a friend in no-time flat. She had a quick witted and sarcastic sense of humor which all of her kids inherited and she could make anybody laugh at a moment’s notice. One of her favorite sayings was, "laugh so you don't cry" which she heard from her own mother growing up. She loved to call people "sweet-heart" and her natural hospitable Brazilian demeanor ingractiated herself to everyone she met. She had a tenacious spirit and a great ability to persevere in her personal struggles no matter what. She also loved to dance and sing and could be found singing either Brazilian or American love songs even at the cost of throwing in her (own lyrics) to them every now and then. She was proud of her dual Brazilian and American Citizenship. She was fiercely protective and loyal to those she loved and anyone who knew her long enough knew she had a "fearless" trust in God. Her kids joked that she had the phone number to God's "red phone" and her lasting legacy will always be how she raised her kids with honorable morals, to respect all people no matter what race or creed and ultimate fidelity to God Almighty.

Teresinha is survived by her husband; Joe M. Pedreiro of Hanford along with her four loving children; Joe & Kim Pedreiro of Hanford, Tony & Dacia of Chowchilla, Maria Ines Pedreiro and Maria de Lourdes “Mary Lou” Pedreiro both of Hanford. She leaves behind her 5 grandchildren; Ashley Cardoza, Brandon Pedreiro, Corey Pedreiro, Corrina Pedreiro and Justin Pedreiro.

Donations may be sent in Teresinha’s memory to St. Vincent De Paul Society; 115 W. 5th Street, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-3763 or to Children’s Storybook Garden and Museum; www.childrensstorybook.org

(559) 341-4845.

Family and Friends are invited to view Teresinha’s legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and send condolences to the family.

A Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Church; 1000 N. Douty Street, Hanford, CA 93230 with Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery; 11680 S. 10th Avenue, Hanford, CA 93230.

Services are under the direction of People’s Funeral Chapel.

PEOPLE’S FUNERAL CHAPEL

501 N. Douty Street

Hanford, CA 93230

559-584-5591

www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com