Jose Maria Sousa

Sousa, Jose Maria It is with great sadness that the family of Jose Maria Sousa announce his sudden passing on April 12, 2015. He passed peacefully after praying the rosary with his beloved wife. Born in Santa Maria, Azores, he was the son of the late Antonio and Maria Jacinta Sousa. Jose came from a very large, loving family having eight brothers and four sisters. Jose married his wife of 60 years, Evangelina (Freitas) on July 17, 1953 and came to the United States in 1966. They built a wonderful life of love, commitment, faith and devotion. He worked tirelessly for his family and retired from Sealtest in 1992. The most treasured things in his life were his faith and family. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church and was also a founding member of the Holy Ghost Portuguese Society. Jose will be forever remembered for his friendly, honest, humble, generous, reliable, and unassuming manner. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend who will always hold a very special place in our hearts. He will now be able to watch over his family and friends and give them the peace that can only be given from above. Among those who will miss him the most are his devoted wife, Evangelina and their five children; Maria Sousa and her husband, Tony of Glastonbury, Arthur Sousa and his wife, Patty of Wallingford, Aida Estanislau and her husband, Ramiro of Newington, Tony Sousa and his wife Penny of Westport, and Tracy Bonvisuto and her husband, Don of Wethersfield. The pride and joy of his life, his grandchildren; Alicia, Sandy, Idalina, Matthew, Davide, Christopher, Isabella and Christian, his great-grandchildren; Oliver, Elijah, Nicholas, Kaitlyn, Alex, Samantha, Gabriella, Anthony, and Ava, his brother, Artur Sousa in Canada and many other special extended family members. He was predeceased by his loving siblings, four sisters and seven brothers. The funeral is Thursday at 9 a.m. from the D'Esopo EAST HARTFORD Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St., East Hartford, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Christopher's Church, 538 Brewer St., East Hartford. Entombment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Hartford. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. For on-line expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com