Obituary of Maria Evangelina Oliveira

Maria Evangelina Dias Oliveira Services will be Friday, August 26, 2011 for Maria Evangelina Dias Oliveira who passed away on August 19, 2011 in Santa Cruz. She was 77 years old. Maria was born to Jose and Julia Dias in Portugal. She and her 8 brothers and sisters lived on Porto Santo Island and then Madeira Island. Maria married Teodoro Oliveira in 1960, and then in 1975 they moved to Santa Cruz, California, joining a few other family members. Once they were settled, Maria offered to her 8 siblings the chance to move to Santa Cruz with her sponsorship. Two sisters and one brother took her up on her offer and moved to Santa Cruz between 1984 and 1985. Maria resided in Santa Cruz for the rest of her life. Maria had a long career as a Master Tailor in Santa Cruz. She worked for various local businesses, including men's and women's formal wear. In 1989, Maria was working at Patrick James located in downtown Santa Cruz. The 1989 Earthquake devastated the shop, and shortly after led Maria to start her own tailoring business, Sew-Sew Maria. She ran the tailoring business for many years and it will continue to be a business run by her family. Maria had a passion for family. She was an extremely loving and generous mother. She also enjoyed making others laugh, and was known for her traditional Portuguese cooking. Maria loved to sing and dance, and she also appreciated plants and flowers. Maria was loyal and very active in the Portuguese Community. She was a board member of the C.P.D.E.S. Hall and a member of the PFSA, the Cabrillo Club, the Grange and the Grey Bears. Maria is survived by her husband of 51 years, Teodoro Oliveira of Santa Cruz, her sons, John, Joe and Lino Oliveira all of Santa Cruz, her daughter, Cristina Oliveira of Santa Cruz, 7 siblings, 3 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial for Maria will be held on Friday, August 26, 2011 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick St. in Santa Cruz beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Visitation will be Thursday, August 25, 2011 at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St. in Santa Cruz from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with the Vigil Service starting at 7:00 p.m. Maria will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Oliveira Trust, 2018 Alice St. Santa Cruz, CA 95062.