Antoinette Pearl “Doll” Sandoval

8/9/1926 – 2/21/2022

A. Pearl Sandoval, 95 of Canyon Country, passed away peacefully on February 21st, 2022 after a long fight with Alzheimer’s. She was a resident of Santa Clarita, CA for over 22 years.

Pearl or “Doll,” as she was named by family and friends, was born on August 9th, 1926 to Maria Vita Doria (Sportelli) (1887-1985) and Antonio Vito Doria (1884-1959) in Worcester, Mass. Her large family, including nine sisters and four brothers moved to Pasadena, CA in 1941 where she attended Washington Junior High School and Pasadena City College. She later went on to attend DeAnza college in Cupertino receiving her AA in Liberal Arts.

In 1943, Antoinette Pearl Doria met Joseph Max Sandoval at the Hollywood Palladium. They were married on March 12th, 1950 and moved to Portland, Oregon where they had two daughters, Nancy Jo in 1951 and Janet Carol in 1953. They eventually settled down in San Jose, CA., having their youngest daughter, Robin Anne in 1963.

Pearl and Joe Sandoval owned several donut, restaurant and retail businesses in San Jose over many years. Later, Pearl had a 35-year career she was proud of at Lockheed Missiles and Space, in Sunnyvale; first as electronics and parts inspector, then eventually becoming the first woman to drive a forklift there. She was forced to retire in 1997 at age 72 only after hyperextending her knee while up on a ladder. She also moonlighted at Target part time. Pearl took an interest in real estate, enjoying it until her late 80’s. Her work ethic was tireless.

Pearl loved all animals including her beloved cats, Patches and Zak and dogs, Koda and Prince. She took joy in nature, flowers, classical music and walking through the woods behind their family house in Worcester, Mass., picking buckets of blueberries.

Growing up, she played the violin, cello, trumpet, and enjoyed playing the piano into her later years. Pearl was a fine artist and one of her first jobs was painting red apples and pink roses on Franciscan ware plates and dinnerware, also known as the famous “Apple Pattern” and “Desert Rose Pattern” for Gladding McBean company in Glendale, CA.

She was a beloved mother, survived by three loving daughters, Nancy Jo “Chela” Sandoval, Janet Carol Sandoval-Rorex and Robin Anne Sandoval-March; son-in-laws, Nuri March and Phillip Rorex and step grandchildren, David, Daniel and Caleb Rorex who will all miss her deeply.

Pearl was pre-deceased by, Guiseppina “Josephine” Michel, Elizabeth “Lee” Cooper, Sylvia Tato, Robert Doria, Alyce Gardner, Marion Neal, Nicky Doria, Leo Dominic “Mimi” Doria, Julia Boes, Jean Walden (Cooper) and is survived by siblings Gloria Townsend, June King and Antonio “Ted” Doria.

Her sense of humor, her beautiful smile and laugh lit up any room. Pearl was kind, generous and compassionate. She will be desperately missed by all those she’s left behind. Pearl was a one of a kind spirit and a faithful Astarian. To be loved by her was to be truly blessed.

Services for Antoinette Pearl “Doll” Sandoval, will be held at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, CA., Monday, March 21st, 2022. Visitation at 1:30PM, directly followed by her funeral service at 2:00PM in the Chapel of Roses.