Obituaries

Lourdes Medina da Costa of Fremont passed away on October 9, 2023 at the age of 97. She is survived by her daughter Anna da Costa, grandchildren; Anthony McKie (Shyra), Jessaca Downing (William), Daryl da Costa (Jennifer), Maria Auman (Steven), and Nicole Schoepp (Brady). Also survived by her great grandchildren; Sean, Isaac, Macy, Costa, Korina, Justin, Cora, Lucas and Aria, brother Antonio Medina, sister Ana Nolan and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband Anibal Cabral da Costa, daughter Maria S. da Costa, sons Antonio A. da Costa and Anibal J. da Costa, father Antonio Medina, mother Evarista Medina, and sister Palmira Freitas.

Lourdes grew up in Santa Cruz, Flores, Acores from the age of 2 until 24 years old when she returned to the USA. She lived in Berkeley with Bernandino and Eva Cabral, my father’s maternal uncle until my father arrived a year later. She was employed at Hunts, DelMonte, Ladies Choice, Care Homes and made history entering General Motors with the first group of women to become an assembler on the automobile line. She was very proud of her culture and heritage and was a member of many Portuguese organizations. She was a master crocheter, knitter, embroiderer, quilt maker, stitcherer and seamsters. She was a devoted Catholic, the grand matriarch to her family, a prominent and distinct governor of her life. She will be missed but her legacy lives on.

A Graveside Service will be held for her on Tuesday, October 24, 11:30am at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.

In lieu of flowers the family is kindly asking you make a donation to her favorite charity: St Jude's Children Research Hospital.