Deutilde Aurelia Medina Varley, age 95, passed away November 7th, 2009.  She was born at Half Moon Bay, California on February 1, 1914.

    Her parents, Jose Machado Medina and his wife Amelia were from Santa Cruz das Ribeiras, on the island of Pico, Azores.  Deutilde’s childhood included going back to Pico to live for a time, and she didn’t come to San Diego until age 14, by which time she was fluently bilingual.

    Deutilde graduated (with Honors) from Point Loma High in 1932, which is also where she met her future husband, Edward Varley.  They were married on July 7, 1937 at St. Agnes Church, and had three sons; Edward Jr. (1938), Joseph (1941), and James Varley (1944).

    Deutilde had lifelong involvements in several Portuguese-American organizations.  In 1934 she joined the S.P.R.S.I. (Sociedade Portuguesa Rainha Saint Isabel) #98, later becoming President for 10 years, State President in 1971, and Queen of the State Convention in 1995.  She was also a charter member of the House of Portugal in Balboa Park in 1935, and the traditional Portuguese dance group that formed there was the forerunner of the Portuguese American Dancers that continue to entertain us today.  She proudly wore her original dancers costume into her 90’s.

    Deutilde was also a member of the P.A.S.C.C. (Portuguese American Social & Civic Club) since 1941, as well as that club’s President twice and on its Board of Directors numerous years.

    As a member of the Portuguese-American League Deutilde was also involved with Lawrence Oliver, Harley Knox, and Col. Ed Fletcher in getting the Cabrillo Statue moved from San Francisco to San Diego, and placed at the Sonar School (first) and later at the Cabrillo National Monument.  

    In her spare time Deutilde was President of the Luso-American Society for 12 years, a member of the St. Anthony Society, the I.D.E.S., the St. Agnes Women’s Guild, the Point Loma Association, the Point Loma High School Association, the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, USD Auxiliary, and a Lifetime VFW member.

    In 1955 Deutilde & Eddie Sr. (and his boat the “Sun Victoria”) were hosts (mordomes) of that year’s annual Festa do Espirito Santo, the biggest event in San Diego’s Portuguese-American community.  Eddie Sr. was out to sea, and Deutilde was intimidated by the enormity of the task.  To her unending gratitude, former host Joe Rodgers came to her and said, “Don’t worry little girl, I’m here to help you”.  And so he did, as did the entire community.

    Under Deutilde’s guidance and with help from an enormous amount of others, the Festa do Espirito Santo contained many “firsts” that year; including:

·         The first “Festa do Espirito Santo” Rosary at the Hall for the entire community.

·         The first overhead Crown of the Holy Spirit centerpiece hung from the ceiling.

·         The first use of the outside Bazaar (instituted to keep the crowds through the afternoon).

·         Restoration of the original 1922 Imperio Chapel to house the Crown of the Holy Spirit year-round, as it still does today.

·         Paying off of the Mortgage of the 1948 re-construction of the UPSES Hall.

    Deutilde adored the Festa do Espirito Santo, and despite the up’s and downs of life and a busy work schedule, she worked in the “Festa” kitchen (except for 1994, the year her husband died) at every one from 1955 through 2009, a span of 53 years.

    Predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Edward Varley Sr., sons Edward Jr. and Joseph Varley, Deutilde is survived by her son James (Priscilla) Varley, 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.  She will be missed beyond measure.

    A viewing will be held Thursday, November 12th at Beardsley-Mitchell Funeral Home, 1818 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. at 3:00 - 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m.

    Funeral Mass will be held Friday, November 13th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1145 Evergreen St.

    Interment will follow Mass; Holy Cross Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Dr.

Source:
Varley Family