Pauline Ann Madeiros, (nee Amaral), April 2, 1912- Mar. 31, 2012, resident of San Jose, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2012 with her family by her side, two days short of her 100th birthday. She lived in the same house in San Jose for 61 years, moving to Campbell Village in 2010. Born to a second generation Portuguese couple, Frank and Emily Amaral, in Centerville (Fremont, CA), on April 2, 1912, 12 days before the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage. Pauline attended Washington Township HS in Fremont and married Edward Madeiros in 1939. She was a homemaker and seamstress all her life, sewing out of her home for many years. She loved to watch beauty pageants on TV with her granddaughters and was always interested in fashion. Taught to sew at home, she became an accomplished seamstress, sewing from her home for decades and totally delighted in all her "customers." Pauline was witness to many "firsts" in her life. She saw the advent of indoor plumbing, the first automobile, the first airplane and space travel. She often said she could not believe she had lived this long!
Preceded in death by her husband, Edward Medeiros in 1987, Pauline is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Loretta and Jim Heckendorn, granddaughters Katy Heckendorn Storm and Susie Heckendorn, and great granddaughter, Avery Storm. Pauline was also preceded in death by her twin sister Emeline in 2011, with whom she was extremely close. The twins often dressed in the same colors even though they did not plan it and would always laugh when they saw each other dressed alike. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 11:00am at the Darling-Fischer Campbell Memorial Chapel 231 E. Campbell Ave. @ 2nd St. Campbell, Ca. Interment Private, Los Gatos Memorial Park.

Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on April 3, 2012.