Jose ‘Joe’ Agrela
Owned Joe's Diner"
LOWELL Jose Agrela, 66, of Lowell, died Monday, February 9, 2009, at Lowell General Hospital, after a valiant fight with cancer.
A son of the late Joao, and the late Gabriela C. (Mendes) Agrela, he was born August 7, 1942, in Madeira, Portugal, and educated in that area. He came to the United States in the early 1970’s settling in Lowell, where he made his home until his death.
A communicant of St. Anthony’s Church, he worked for Fletcher Granite in Westford for more than ten years when he first came to the United States, and was the owner of Joe’s Diner on Chelmsford Street through the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was a member of the Portuguese American Center and the Portuguese American Civic League. He enjoyed growing his grapes and making his own wine, and was an avid bird enthusiast as well as an avid gardner. He especially enjoyed cooking for his family every Sunday.
He is survived by five children, Anita Cielakie and her husband, Robert Cielakie Jr., of Lowell, Kelly Miskimins and her significant other, Dannel Gannon, of Lowell, Ana Russell and her husband, Eric, of Lowell, Jose ‘Joseph’ Agrela of Lowell, and Luis Agrela and his wife, Crystal, of Lowell; eight grandchildren, Gabriella Cielakie, Alexandra Cielakie, and Robert Cielakie III, Lukas Gannon, Keira Gannon, Jacob Russell, Hailey Russell, and Caleb Desrochers; seven brothers and sisters including, Avelino Agrela and his wife, Maria Dora, of Lowell; and many nieces and nephews including Joey Agrela, Ana Paula Agrela, Maria “Ines” Bellerose, and her husband, Keith, as well as their children, KJ and Natalia Bellerose. He is also survived by two very special friends Debra Gore of Lawrence, and Tina Martell of Nashua.
He was also the brother of the late Luis Agrela and the late Celeste Moniz.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. ON THURSDAY.
ON FRIDAY, HIS FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816.
HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH AT 10 A.M..
Address for directions: 893 Central Street Lowell, MA 01852
BURIAL IN ST. PATRICK CEMETERY LOWELL.
MEMORIALS IN HIS NAME TO LOWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL CANCER CENTER, C/O DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, 295 VARNUM AVE, LOWELL MA 01854
