Born in Redwood City, Calif., on March 6, 1951, Victoria Antoinette Pereira, a resident of Oak Harbor for 17 years, passed away at Whidbey General Hospital in the morning of July 27, 2006 at the age of 55.
She worked as an emergency medical technician in southern California. While on vacation in 1988, she fell in love with the area and decided to migrate north to Oak Harbor the following year. She became an entrepreneur with her business “The Hot Dog Works” in Coupeville. She worked at Whidbey General Hospital as a housekeeper. The last four years of her mother’s life she was her loving caretaker. Victoria’s last five years of life culminated as a janitorial supervisor for New Leaf.
Throughout Victoria’s short life she inspired and touched many lives. Her charismatic personality drew everyone she met to love her. She loved nature, especially the forest and beaches. Most of all she loved the beautiful sunsets of Whidbey Island. She had high energy, drive and an unrelenting ability to forgive and understand. She always had an ear to actually listen, not just hear, a shoulder to lean or cry on, and a word or two of wisdom to offer. She made everyone feel as if they were family. She inspired those around her to enjoy life and everything it had to offer. She had a love of books, the art of Maxfield Parish, music of the early ‘70s, and the quadruple shot mocha.
As a grandmother, she fell in love with the position, spending quality time with each of her grandkids. She often would want to take them to do various different things. She loved to play outdoors, teach them about nature, and show them her flowers. She had a special rapport with each of them.
She was preceded in death by her parents Alfred Aburto of Mentone, Calif., and Rebecca Knoeck of Oak Harbor, and a brother, Samuel Aburto of Arizona. Victoria is survived by her children Melissa Renee Bradway, Thomas Leo McCabe, and Amber Alexandria McCabe, all residents of Oak Harbor; her ex-husbands, Jan Bradway of Upland, Calif., John McCabe of Oak Harbor, and John Pereira; six sisters and four brothers, Linda Aburto, Alfred Aburto Jr. of San Diego, David Aburto of Oak Harbor, Cynthia Weber of Rialto, Calif., Theresa Aburto-Roden of Nevada City, Calif., Jacquelyn Marshall of Bishop, Calif., Robin Aburto of Everett, James Aburto of Calimesa, Calif., Elizabeth Aburto of Pomona, Calif., and Rebecca Miller of Salt Lake City. Five grandchildren, as well as 15 nieces and nephews also survive Victoria.
Funeral services to celebrate the life of Victoria were held at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church Aug. 1 at 11 a.m. under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
