Joao M. 'John' DeSousa
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Brother
LOWELL Joao M. 'John' DeSousa, 77, of Lowell, died after a long illness with his family by his side Friday, December 28, 2012 at Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill. Since 2008, he was the husband of Maria C. (Cesar) DeSousa. He was also the husband of the late Odete Simao DeSousa who passed away in 2007 after 48 years of marriage.
He was born July 2, 1935, in Guadalupe, Graciosa, Azores, Portugal, and he was a son of the late Altamiro DeSousa, and the late Maria Julia Desousa. John grew up and was educated in Graciosa before moving to Terceira as a young adult. In 1967 he moved to the United States settling in Lowell.
He resided in the Back Central Street neighborhood, and was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church. He was a lifetime member of the Holy Ghost Society, as well as the Portuguese American Center, and Portuguese American Civic League. For over 30 years he worked for Pellon, now Frudenburg, until his retirement. He enjoyed fishing and dancing, as well as tending to his grapevines, and trees. Most of all he enjoyed helping to take care of his grandchildren, especially when they were young.
In addition to his wife, Maria, he is survived by a daughter, Jenny Nunes and her husband, Frank of Tewksbury; three stepsons, Mario Castro of Lowell, Inacio Cesar of Lowell, and Leonardo Cesar of Brazil; two grandsons, Sean Nunes and Ryan Nunes both of Tewksbury; a step-grandson, Daniel Cesar of Brazil; a step-granddaughter, Manuela Cesar of Brazil; a sister, Maria Picanco and her husband, Manuel of Lowell; and three brothers, Luis DeSousa and his wife, Maria of Lowell, Rafael DeSousa and his wife, Maria of Lowell, and Camilo DeSousa and his wife, Antonina of Graciosa. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and his God Children, Ivone Barreto of Peabody, and Luis F. DeSousa of Lowell.
He was also the brother of the late Hermegildo DeSousa.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS FROM 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 3. ON FRIDAY, HIS FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 10 A.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL (978 OR 800) 458-6816. HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH, 893 CENTRAL STREET, LOWELL AT 11 A.M.. BURIAL IN ST. MARY CEMETERY. MEMORIALS IN HIS NAME MAY BE MADE TO MERRIMACK VALLEY HOSPICE HOUSE, 360 NORTH AVENUE, HAVERHILL, MA 01830. PLEASE VISIT WWW.MCDONOUGHFUNERALHOME.COM TO SEND THE FAMILY AN E-CONDOLENCE.
