Joseph Simao

Joseph (Joe, Jose) Fortes Simao, 87, Wethersfield, beloved husband, for 63 years, of Gloria (Jose) Simao, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2016. Joseph was born on December 9, 1928 in Pinhal de Obidos, Portugal, and was the son of the late Antonio and Rosaria (Fortes) Simao. Because his family lived by and operated the village windmill, he was known as ""Ze do moinho."" Joe was the first of his family to move to the US, followed by his 9 siblings and their families. They became an integral part of the Hartford Portuguese community, actively supporting the growth of Our Lady of Fatima Church and the Hartford Portuguese Club. In Obidos, where he had a second home for many decades, he supported the Obidos town band and the yearly Festa do Pinhal, where participating in its many traditions was one of his lifelong joys. He worked very hard all his life as a farmer and a construction foreman, but he was never too tired to help one of his causes, family, friends, neighbor, child, or anyone in need. Both in the US and in Portugal, there were few people who commanded so much respect and genuine affection, yet he was very humble. Other than occasional expressions of pride in his daughter's and granddaughter's accomplishments, he was never one to brag. He let his actions do all the talking. In addition to his wife, Joseph will be sadly missed by his daughter Maria R. Simao and her husband Michael G. Gorzoch; Granddaughter Natalia Gorzoch and her husband Riston Francis; Great-Grandson Elliott Francis; four brothers, Alberto Simao and wife Odete, Manuel Fortes and wife Nazare, Antonio Simao and wife Helena, Luis Simao and wife Rosa, and his sister-in-law Felismina Simao; two sisters, Maria Augusta DelGreco and Maria Arminda Vicente; and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his brother Carlos Simao and two sisters, Julia Gomes and Maria Helena Antunes. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, October 18th from 9 to 11 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 50 Kane Street, Hartford, and burial will proceed to Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Memorial donations in Joseph's name may be made to Our Lady of Fatima Church. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.