Agnes Rua

Agnes (Freitas) Rua, age 94, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2020 peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Captain Joseph Rua, their marriage cut short by his tragic loss on the tugboat Jovi in 1978.

Born and raised in New Bedford she was one of 13 children of the late Avelino and Maria (Gonsalves) Freitas.

For twenty-eight years Agnes was employed as a cafeteria worker for New Bedford High School. The women she worked with and the lasting loving friendships she made with them, Agnes forever treasured. She was always present at her daughter Lori’s basketball games where she could be heard yelling “Lori, bend your knees” and was never shy of sharing her opinions of the games or refs! Agnes also loved her time spent as a cheerleading coach for St. Mary’s School. Doing arts and crafts, painting, antique shopping, spending time at the casinos and going on Paragon Bus Tours was how she enjoyed her free time. Family was very important to Agnes and she will be so deeply missed.

She is survived by her two daughters, Lisa Tobiason and her husband Thomas of Acushnet, with whom she resided for the last 15 years and Lori Rua and her husband Anthony Buccini of New Bedford; a brother, John Freitas of CT; a sister, Sally Gouveia and her husband Danny of CA; three grandchildren, Lane Tobiason of VA, Sierra Tobiason of Ohio, and Jake Tobiason of Acushnet and many generations of nieces and nephews.

Her Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 10:00AM in St. Mary’s Church, 343 Tarkiln Hill Rd., New Bedford, followed by burial in Pine Grove Cemetery. In-lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908, 1-800-822-6344 or www.stjude.org

Arrangements are in the care of ROCK FUNERAL HOME, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02745. For on-line tributes, please visit our website at: www.rock-funeralhome.com