Jacqueline Pineiro

Jacqueline Pineiro was an honest and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. From her humble beginnings until her death, Jacqueline’s devotion to family made her an exceptional person. The 1940s were dominated by World War II. War production pulled us out of the Great Depression. Women were needed to replace men who had gone off to war, and so the first great exodus of women from the home to the workplace began - even though the minimum wage was only $0.43 an hour. Rationing affected the food we ate, the clothes we wore, even the toys with which children played.

Jacqueline H. Pineiro was born into this time of rationing and working women. Her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Conley, lived in Miami, Florida, and were already the parents of one child. On December 3, 1942 they welcomed the birth of their second child, Jacqueline. Baby Jacqueline was the second of seven children in the Conley family. Four brothers and two sisters joined her. This lively group of youngsters included two sets of twins – Dale and Gail, and Rob and Robin.

Times were tough in those days, and Jacqueline and her family moved several times in order for her father to find work. She, being the next to the oldest, assumed much of the responsibility of raising her younger siblings. As a high school student, Jacqueline dropped out of school for a year. Her mother had fallen and broken her ankle and was unable to care for the family by herself. Jacqueline gladly assumed this extra duty. When her mother was able to take care of things again, Jacqueline returned to school and graduated from Hialeah High School in 1962.

After graduation, she went to work at a clothing warehouse. It was here that she met a handsome young man named Jose Pineiro. He had come to Florida from Cuba on April 1, 1962, just days before the Bay Of Pigs Invasion. Jose said “As soon as I saw her at work that day, it was love at first sight”. The couple courted for three years and was married on June 25, 1965.

Jose and Jacqueline moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to find work and start a family. Jacqueline worked as a seamstress for many years, emulating the working women of the 40s. She loved to sew and used her skills to make dolls and different crafts. Not content to just work with her hands, she kept her mind sharp by doing crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. She also loved to bowl. Jacqueline enjoyed music, especially hymns and gospel music, particularly those sung by Elvis Presley.

Jacqueline H. Pineiro, aged 60, went to be in the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, September 8, 2003. She is survived by her husband, Jose; children, Joe Pineiro, Dave (Melony) Pineiro, Tony (Cristy) Pineiro, and Juanita Pineiro. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Michael, Stephanie, Victoria, Jacob, Jeremy, Jordan, Tyler, and Ethan; brothers, Rick (Kathy) Conley III, Dale (Carol) Conley, and Rob (Judy) Conley; sisters, Gail Conley and Robin (Dave) Foss; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 13, 2003 at the Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, Heritage Funeral Service, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr., NW. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the funeral home on Friday, September 12, 2003, from 7 –9 pm. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park. Please visit Jacqueline’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, order flowers, or make a contribution to the American Cancer Society online.

Jacqueline will always be remembered as a hard working person who loved to be with her family and grandchildren.