Joseph A. Camara
LOWELL Joseph A. Camara, 92 of Lowell, passed
away peacefully after a brief illness on Friday, July 17, 2020 at his
home surrounded by his devoted wife and family. He was the loving
husband of Patricia (Freitas) Camara with whom he would have celebrated
their 46th wedding anniversary coming up in October.
He was born in
Lowell on September 22, 1927 and was a son of the late Jose Camara and
the late Maria A. (Francisco) Camara. He was raised in Lowell, where he
attended the area schools graduating from Lowell High School with the
class of 1945. He then received his Masters Degree in Music Education at
Boston University in 1951.
For over 40 years, Joe was employed as a
music teacher at the Daley School in Lowell until his retirement in
1995. He also spent many days as an Umpire for youth baseball and was
also an official for youth basketball.
Joe was a kind man and could
often be found enjoying music, golfing, bowling, traveling, or taking
long rides. He adored time spent with his family, especially his
grandchildren, who will fondly remember his ‘shortcut’ road trips. He
loved going out to dinner and would travel any distance to take his wife
out for a good meal. One of his favorite past times was living out a
lifelong dream of his by taking his whole family to Madeira for New
Years in 2017/18.
Joe was a member of the Merrimack Valley
Philharmonic Orchestra of North Andover, the United Teachers of Lowell,
the International Institute, the Portuguese American Civic League, the
Portuguese American Club, the Lowell Elks, and the NEA Teachers
Association. He was also the former President of the Holy Ghost Society
in Lowell, where he was instrumental in the construction of the new Holy
Ghost Society building. He worked on the Building Committee for many
years to make that building a reality. On June 4, 2013 Joe was awarded
the Portuguese Heritage Award at the State House in Boston.
In
addition to his wife, Patricia (Freitas) Camara of Lowell, he is
survived by his two children, Joseph A. Camara and his husband, Edward
J. Banks of Lowell and Lauren J. Lannon and her husband, Frederick of
Chelmsford; his granddaughter, Kristi Williams and her husband, Rob of
Chelmsford; his grandson, Steven Lannon and his wife, Abigail of Woburn;
and his cherished great granddaughter, Meadow Marie Williams of
Chelmsford.
He is also survived by his sisters in law, Barbara
Duarte of Lowell, and Josephine Dowd of Springfield; his brother in law,
Edward Perron of Nashua, NH; his cousins, Dolores Bello and her
husband, Jose of West Hartford, CT; and many nieces, nephews and other
extended family all over the world including, Madeira, Canada and
Australia, as well as throughout the United States.
Joe was also the brother of the late Helen Perron; and brother in law of the late Joseph Dowd, and the late Gabriel Duarte.
The family would like to thank Compassus Hospice of North Andover and
the Visiting Angels of Chelmsford for their kindness and compassion
during his final days. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be
made to the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, PO Box 332,
Haverhill MA 01831.
WHILE FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES, ON THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND HIS CALLING HOURS FROM 4-8 P.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL, 978-458-6816.
DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, HIS FUNERAL MASS AND BURIAL AT ST. MARY CEMETERY WILL TAKE PLACE WITH HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY.
