Search Archived Marriage Records
Dolores P. Freitas
Anyone who came to live in Half Moon Bay from the Azores Islands could count on a helping hand from Dolores P. Freitas while they were getting settled.
It was Mrs. Freitas who would be there to help with clothing, dishes or other household necessities, and even help in finding a place to live.
"She helped just about everyone Portuguese in town," said Mary Alise Oliveira of Half Moon Bay.
Oliveira recalled how, when her own family came to Half Moon Bay when she was 13, Mrs. Freitas helped the family find a place to live and got some clothes for young Mary to wear to school. "I thought the world of her. She raised me," she said. "She was like my second mother."
And, "She was an icon in this town."
Mrs. Freitas died Feb. 14, due to natural causes, at the Spice of Life convalescent home in Redwood City. She was 80.
Mrs. Freitas was born in New Bedford, Mass., but went to the Azores with her family when she was very young. The family remained there for about 30 years, during which time Mrs. Freitas married her first husband, Tony Brazil.
The couple were married for about eight years until Mr. Brazil's death in 1951. She returned to America not long after that and lived in Massachusetts for three years before coming to Half Moon Bay in 1958, and staying.
Around that time she married her second husband, Joe Freitas. Mrs. Freitas devoted herself to being a homemaker and raising her family. She and her husband were married until Mr. Freitas' death in 2000.
Mrs. Freitas is preceded in death by her second husband, Joe Freitas, and by her sister, Maria Vaz of Half Moon Bay, both of whom died in 2000.
She is survived by her sons, Tony Brazil of Half Moon Bay, John Brazil of San Jose, Joe Freitas of Half Moon Bay, and daughter Filomena Marini of El Dorado Hills. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces, all of Half Moon Bay.
A Rosary service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at Five Wounds Church at 1375 East Santa Clara St. in San Jose. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on the next day, Friday, Feb. 20, also at Five Wounds Church, followed by interment in San Jose.
Dorothy Besse Lucchese
Animals, birds and having lunch with friends were beloved things to Dorothy Besse Lucchese, who lived for more than 50 years in La Honda.
Mrs. Lucchese, described by her family as a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Feb. 13, 2004, in hospice care in Redwood City, due to natural causes. She was 75.
Mrs. Lucchese was born in San Francisco on March 3, 1928.
She lived in Half Moon Bay during her high school years, returning for a while to San Francisco and then, following her marriage to Peter Lucchese, finally settling in La Honda, where she and her husband raised their family.
She was a very quiet woman with a "wonderful sense of humor," according to her daughter, Lorraine Fluharty of La Honda. She loved living in that mountain town, particularly enjoying its wildlife, her garden and her lunch gatherings with friends, said her daughter.
Mrs. Lucchese is preceded in death by her husband of about 50 years, Peter Lucchese, who died in 1996, and by her son, Lenny Lucchese, who died in 2002. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine and Mike Fluharty of La Honda, by grand-children Jeff Fluharty of New Jersey, Ken Fluharty of San Francisco and Doug Oswald of Belmont, and by great-grandson Riley Quin Fluharty of New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who knew Mrs. Lucchese "take a moment to think about their mom," said Lorraine Fluharty.
Jack Thomas Engdahl
Words that best describe Jack Engdahl, a longtime resident of Montara, say members of his family, are "selfless, courageous, strong, spontaneous, fair, mischievous and fun-loving."
"The eternal optimist, Jack's glass was always half-full, and (his) motto was 'always reach for the brass ring,'" said his family.
Mr. Engdahl died on March 1 at Stanford Medical Center after bravely battling cancer.
Born Nov. 23, 1935, Mr. Engdahl grew up with his brother, Ron, and their parents in Monmouth, Ill. He left Monmouth in 1953 to serve in the United States Air Force, where he worked as a radio repair technician.
After his honorable discharge, Mr. Engdahl decided to settle in an area with a more temperate climate, and moved to California in 1957.
He remained living there for the rest of his life, with his family.
In 1974, Mr. Engdahl came to the Coastside, settling in Half Moon Bay. Two years later, he married his wife, Maxine, and the couple moved to El Granada. They bought their house in Montara in 1979, and there raised their six children.
"He was a really wonderful man," said his wife, Maxine Engdahl. "He was my best friend."
Mr. Engdahl worked in sales and, for a while, was the vice president of a skylight company.
But, described by his family as a self-starter unafraid to take risks in business and in life and who was "a true innovator at heart," he founded Royalite Manufacturing, a skylight company, in San Carlos in 1989. After years of dedication and hard work, the family said, the company is thriving, having grown to 18 employees.
Many skylights in Coastside structures came from Mr. Engdahl and that company, said his wife, including the ones at Cetrella and in La Piazza.
"And those aren't even the most beautiful there are," she added.
Mr. Engdahl, his family said, was "larger than life in stature and in spirit. His big hands and big laugh were only surpassed by his big warm heart."
"Jack will be truly missed, by his family and by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him."
Mr. Engdahl is survived by his wife, Maxine Engdahl, of Montara, and his children, Rick Engdahl of Studio City, Jackie Erickson of Los Gatos, John Steadman of El Granada, Laura Deem of Mountain View, Krista Kearney of Seattle, and Tricia McKinney of Mountain View. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Jake Erickson, 9, Jessica Erickson, 8, and Emma Steadman, two weeks, with two more on the way.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Coastside Lutheran Church at 900 North Cabrillo Highway in Half Moon Bay. The service will be followed directly by a reception at the Harbor House, located at 345 Princeton Ave. in Princeton.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, in honor of Jack. T. Engdahl, at Silicon Valley Central Coast Region, 1715 South Bascom Ave., Suite 100, Campbell, CA 95008.
Marilyn Theresa Long
Marilyn Theresa Long, a lifelong resident of the La Honda area, died March 3, 2004, at her La Honda home, due to an illness. She was 53.
Ms. Long was born in San Francisco but came to La Honda as a young child with her family. She was a longtime employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles in Redwood City. Ms. Long enjoyed traveling and gambling, said her family.
"She was a fun-loving individual," said her daughter, Teri Roland. "She loved her kids more than anything."
Ms. Long is survived by her son, Marques Tainter of Springfield, Ore., her daughter, Teri Roland of Citrus Heights, Calif., and grandchildren Paul and Raymond Tainter of Oregon.
Ms. Long had requested to be cremated. A celebration of her life was held March 7 at the La Honda public park.
