João José Botelho

September 29, 1940 - March 11, 2023

João José Botelho, 82, of Delta, BC, passed away on March 11, 2023. After surviving a stroke in 2016, João eventually developed dementia and in 2020, required around the clock care. While dementia took many things from João, it did not take away his bright smile and sunny disposition.

João was born on September 29, 1940 to José and Maria da Glória Botelho in Livramento, São Miguel, Açores, Portugal. Alongside his fraternal twin brother, Francisco, he grew up in a big family that lived off the land on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also where he met his wife, Maria Isabel Botelho in 1958.

After João graduated from school, he went on to become a talented machinist. Then in 1965, he immigrated to Canada where he first landed in Montreal, Quebec before taking a train across the country to Vancouver, BC. He temporarily settled in Surrey and lived in the Linda Vista Hotel on King George highway with his sister, Maria José Dovale, and her family while he worked at Gearmatic Co. Inc. as a machinist. Within three years, he had saved enough money to buy land in North Delta and build a house upon it. His wife, Isabel, joined him in 1968. Once reunited, João and Isabel went on to have three children: Paul, John, and Gloria.

From Gearmatic he worked at Molicel in Maple Ridge which manufactures lithium metal rechargeable cells, and he eventually finished his career at H-S Tool & Parts Inc, an aerospace company in Richmond. At HS-Tools, he had the opportunity to work on a part for the Canadarm. He semi-retired at age 65 but continued to work part-time until 2013. João spent his retirement gardening, traveling, attending festas at the local Portuguese church, and doing repairs on his house as well as the homes of his three children.

João was predeceased by his parents, José and Maria da Glória Botelho, and his brothers, Manuel, Francisco, José, and Fernando. He is survived by his wife, Isabel Botelho, his children, Paul Botelho (Katherine Botelho), John Botelho (Kim Johnston), Gloria Botelho; his grandchildren, Oliver Botelho and Gabriel Botelho; his sister Maria José Dovale, his step-brother Manuel Jacinto, his half-brother José Botelho; and a long list of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at Immaculate Conception Parish at 8842 119 Street, North Delta on March 31, 2023 at 11:00 am. Afterwards please join us for a reception in the parish hall to enjoy some refreshments and to share your fondest memories of João. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC (https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/take-action/donate/donate-memory-honour) or the Heart & Stroke Foundation (https://www.heartandstroke.ca/ - Click the red "Donate" button at the top of the page and follow the prompts).

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