Laura A Couto

Laura Almeida Couto was called to heaven on Friday, January 25, 2013 in San Jose, CA. She joins her beloved son Paul Jorge Couto, sisters Fernanda, Natalia, Maria José, brother-in-law João Medeiros, and her parents, José & Ana Almeida.

Laura was born in São Miguel, Açores, Portugal, on July 26, 1931, joining her 4 older sisters: Fernanda Almeida, Maria Acencão (Magahlos), Natalia Almeida (Andrade), & Maria José (Pedro). Her younger sister, Maria Luisa (Medeiros) followed soon after.

Laura came to Santa Clara in 1968, pregnant with her 5th child. Supported by her friends Manuela Rabadon and Laura Furtado, and joined in Santa Clara several years later by her sister and brother-in-law, Luisa and João, she raised her 5 children with love and humor, and became “Mommy Laura” to Karen Matos-Borba and Jennifer (Matos) Stevens.

Known to her children as Mãe and affectionately known as Vavó or “the Vove” to her grandchildren and extended family and friends, Laura remained the mainstay and matriarch of a loving and close knit family. Preceded in death by her son Paul, she is survived by her sisters Luisa Medeiros and Maria Acencão; nieces Ana (Medeiros) Miller and Angela Medeiros; friends-for-life Laura Furtado and Manuela Rabadon; daughter-in-law Laurie Couto, children Maria (Vince) Vergano (Santa Clara), Carlos (Molly) Couto (Richmond), Mario (Robyn) Couto (San Jose), and Linda (Tony) Navarrete (Santa Clara); grandchildren Lindsey Couto (Saheed Mohamed), Anthony Quintana, Nicholas Vergano, Amanda Quintana, Elizabeth Couto, Ryan Couto, Dylan Couto, Rosie Couto, Kelli Vergano, Robert Couto, Christopher Navarrete and Kailey Navarrete.

Laura enjoyed family gatherings, long phone calls with her sister Luisa and long-time friend Laura, occasional trips to the casinos, a strong shot of Jack Daniels, Elvis Presley, and refrigerator magnets. She loved Spanish soap operas and wasn’t embarrassed to yell at the characters on tv if they were making poor choices. In Laura’s kitchen, there was always meat and potatoes (carne y batatas), sweet bread (pão doce), a plate of sweet rice (arroz doce), or a cup of tea (quer chá?) at the ready in case someone came over. These are just some of the Portuguese words her English-speaking family learned from her through the years. Many others cannot be spoken in polite company. She also had a collection of English sayings (“vovisms”) for which she is famous within her family.

In a country far away from her siblings and family, in a language not her own, she was a single stay-at-home mom before they were called that, raising her 5 children in the Catholic parish of St. Clare’s with a lasting faith, strong loyalty, fierce love, and wicked sense of humor. Laura helped to raise most of her grandchildren as well, acting as full time babysitter while their parents worked. Many of her strongest characteristics – her loyalty to her family and her fun and lively sarcasm and humor, most especially - live on in her children and grandchildren.

Visitation at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary Wednesday, January 30th from 5-9pm, with a Rosary at 7pm.

Funeral at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary Thursday, January 31st at 11am, followed by internment at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.

Reception to follow; information to be distributed at the services.

Pallbearers include sons Carlos and Mario Couto, sons-in-law Vince Vergano and Tony Navarrete, and grandsons Nick Vergano and Ryan Couto.