Obituary of Pauline Duarte Stein

Pauline D. Stein January 13th, 1933 ------ August 22nd, 2017 She was kind. She was classy. She was generous. She was a lovely lady who loved life, and capitalized on it by traveling the world, seeing and doing many wonderful things. The eldest of three, Pauline was born on January 13th, 1933 in Tucson, Arizona to Molly Duarte (later Molly Ortega) and Antonio Stein from the Village of Big Fields. Together, Pauline and her mother resided in what was known as "Mexican Town" during the Glory Days of Ajo, Arizona. As a young lady, Pauline frequented Tucson where she made friends and formed strong, life-long bonds. In her youth, Pauline radiated with the beauty of a classic starlette, and throughout her life carried herself with a graceful ease and elegance, proper manners and etiquette always on display. She was an old-fashioned lady from an old-fashioned time. After graduating high school in Ajo, Pauline set out to travel the world and visited places such as Italy, Spain, France, Japan, Morocco, Amsterdam, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Israel and Hawaii…more than once throughout her life! As the years went by and she became an Aunt, Pauline would take her nephews and nieces on trips with her, sharing the experience and showing them the grander views in life- that there was a world beyond the one we all see every day. For many, many years Pauline lived in a small apartment in Los Angeles off Sunset Boulevard and working at the Kaiser Hospital. Her nephews, nieces and sisters would come by and visit often and join her in watching the Lakers, or the LA Dodgers games. Though she would visit Ajo and Tucson often to visit family and above all her Mother Molly, it was Los Angeles that Pauline felt at home. In her later years Pauline moved in with her niece, Veronica and son Gabriel Gonzales in Glendora, California. Still one for traveling Pauline often flew out to Arizona to be with family for special events and always on holidays…Pauline was consistently a strong and supportive presence in the lives of her nephews, nieces and sisters. She was always there and she cared deeply for them all, helping and being present in times of celebration and in times of tragedy, leading them in kindness, class and generosity…. Pauline would return to Ajo in the Summer of 2017 where she would visit her mother's grave, spend time with her sister Virginia Garcia and enjoy some laughs with her nephews Pancho and Julian. Returning to Tucson she resided under the loving care of her niece Sara Flores and keep good company with her other sister Margaret Vega and her grandchildren. She laughed, she made golden memories, she loved and was loved by all… On Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017 with her family at her bedside, Pauline passed on, joining the loved ones that went before her. Having loved and being loved by many, she truly lived life, now free to travel the countries of heaven… Pauline leaves behind two sisters, Virginia Garcia of Ajo, Arizona and Margaret Vega of Tucson. As well as many nephews and nieces spread out through Arizona and California…Her presence will be sorely missed, but her life will be celebrated… WE LOVE YOU Tia Paula