Lucille Cordeiro's Obituary
Lucille Cordeiro
Our mom, Lucille Evelyn Fowler Cordeiro, was born on August 17, 1924 in Stockton, California. In her early years, she lived on a farm with her parents, Ernest and Grace Fowler, and two older siblings -- a brother Loren and a sister Lois. She told us how poor they were and how she put cardboard in her shoes as they wore out. Her clothes were sewn by her mother and she slept on down pillows her mother made. Mom still had one of these pillows. Mom graduated from Berkeley High and attended the University of California. She lived in San Francisco and worked for the railroad. Her boss thought so much of her that they remained friends for many years. In 1948 she was introduced to a young St. Mary’s College football player from Hawaii named Charles “Spike” Cordeiro. He was immediately smitten. Three months later they eloped. Even dad’s football buddies thought highly of mom and she was frequently one of the wives accompanying the team on road trips. Mom played the cello as a young girl and loved listening to music -- especially Hawaiian music. We also remember her playing her “78” records from the 40’s and 50’s and dancing around the house. We “twisted” around the house with Chubby Checker songs, did the “mashed potato” and “the jerk”. She embraced our favorite music and joined right in whether it was rock and roll, “psychedelic” or folk music. She was cool. Mom had several jobs -- she worked for dad, K-LEI Radio Station and a home caregiver service. But her most important job was her family. We remember her being classroom mother, team mother and driving us to school, practice and all our other activities. Whatever we needed, she was there. When teachers or the team needed her, she was there. She was also the “mom” that some of our friends went to for advice. She kept our dinners warm when we were late from surfing, practice, school or playing outside. She also supported dad when he ran for political office. She was generous, hardworking, had selfless dedication to family and friends and was fiercely loyal. No one messed with “Mrs. Cordeiro”. As mom grew older, she retained her sense of humor, zest for life and her passion to love. She loved her husband, Spike. She loved her children, Colleen, Ronnie and Randy. She loved her grandchildren, Kimberly, Kyle and Angela and her “adopted” grandchildren Veronica and Alex. She accepted and loved the people we chose to love. She loved her neighbors and friends in Kailua and Kaneohe. We will be forever awed and grateful to these people who gave so much of themselves to care for mom. Even as mom grew more ill, she never gave up. We could still see the twinkle in her eyes. We got the sense she was still looking out for us and she was still the boss. She wanted to live and wash another load of laundry -- she really loved to do laundry. She was a survivor, an optimist, a giver and our barometer for right and wrong . We are so grateful for all the lessons she taught us, all the love we received and all the fun we had -- we really had a lot of fun. We will never forget. Her spirit will live on because of all the good things she did in her life for others.
We miss you mom. We will always love you. Give our love to dad when you see him.
Colleen, Ron and Randy
Comittal services will be held on Friday October 25, 2013 at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery
What’s your fondest memory of Lucille?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lucille?
Share a story where Lucille's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lucille you’ll never forget.
How did Lucille make you smile?