Jesse was born to Luis Caetano Medeiros and Maria Furtado Medeiros on Portugal Azores Island of San Miguel. At the age of 20, in 1954, Jesse migrated to the United States. He ended up in the city of Gustine, near Modesto in Northern California. He began working in the dairy industry as a cow milker for Simon Newman Company who had a mild contract with the United Sates Navy.
At the age of 24, Jesse began applying to become an American citizen so that he could return to San Miguel Island to marry his girlfriend, Eduarda, who had been waiting for him for nearly five years. After the wedding they moved to Chino in 1959. He started another job milking cows for the Pete Bekendam Family Dairy. He enjoyed working for Pete and Carol Bekendam for 13 years in Chino. Jesse was proud to be a member of the Dairy Employees Union. In late 1960, Jesse and Eduarda had their first don Jesse Jr. and 11½ months later, they had their second son Joe in 1961.
Jesse continued as a milker with Ted Miller Dairy in Chino until retirement. Jesse and Eduarda enjoyed yearly trips for decades to return to Gustine in Northern California for Our Lady of Miracles Portuguese Celebration. They also attended Portuguese functions at D.E.S. Hall in Chino. They enjoyed making sweet wine from their backyard grapes with their brother-in-law Frank and Isuara. The couple planted and Harvested fava bean plants, a staple in the Portuguese diet brought here from Portugal. They processed and canned red peppers that are used in Portuguese cooking.
Jesse and Eduarda were members/parishioners at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church for 65 years. Approximately five years ago, Germaine Lanathoua, from St Margaret Mary began administering weekly Communion and prayer in their home in Chino.
Jesse is also preceded in death by all six siblings, Mary, Eduarda, Joe, Louies, Duarte and David. He is survived by his two sons, Jesse Jr. and Joe, both of Chino and two grandsons, Brandon and Nick.
Services will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The viewing will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Funeraria Del Angel, 13002 Central Ave, in Chino. Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 12686 Central Ave. in Chino followed by Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery, 444 E. Lexington Ave in Pomona. Reception will follow at Tropical Mexico, 1371 East End in Pomona.
