Arnaldo P. Avila, age 92 was born June 7, 1928 and passed away April 4, 2021. He is preceded in death by his wife Maria, his parents Manuel Pedroso Avila and Serafina Brasil Avila, his brothers Manuel, Walter, George and Sam. He is survived by his children George Avila (Tina), Rosemary Macedo (John), Arnold Avila (Yvonne), Dena Gilroy (Gary), Regina Costa (Ron), Grandchildren: Sarah Deliyiannis (Brett), Rebekah Moules (Brien), Matthew Avila and Jacob Avila, Step grandchildren: Aamy Sanders (Cody), Albert Fidalgo (Sara), Grandchildren: Jennifer Macedo (Stacey), Jill Valgos (Stephen), John Macedo Jr. (Corrin), Kayla Lloyd (Tom), Jaclyn Avila (Trevor), Arnold Avila Jr., Jason Avila, Alexandra Gilroy Golden (Christopher), Nicholas Gilroy, Michael Costa (Heidi), Adam Costa (Yedith), Kevin Costa, and Benjamin Costa, Great Grandchildren: William and Wyatt Deliyiannis, Manuel and Martin Moules, Step Great Grandchildren: James, Delaney and Jackson Sanders, Audrey and Amilia Fidalgo, Great Grandchildren: Mikah Rapisura-Macedo, Mark and Luke Valgos, Bethany, Molly and Brooklyn Macedo, Lyla and Kinsley Lloyd, Kelsy Smith, Julia Golden and Charlotte Costa.
Arnaldo was born to Serafina Brasil and Manuel Pedroso Avila in the village of Manadas on the Island of Sao Jorge, Azores. Arnaldo married Maria Eulalia Sousa on April 30, 1951 and soon after, left the Azores to build a foundation for a new life for he and his wife in the United States. Maria joined him 3 years later in 1954.
Arnaldo's first job was on a dairy in Los Banos. Later, he became dairy partners with John "Pop" Silva in Modesto. Pop sold out to Arnaldo and thus the family business began on Paradise Road in Modesto, now known as the de Witte Ranch. In 1966, Arnaldo moved the family and the dairy to its current location on Paradise Road after purchasing it from the Pope Family.
Arnaldo would say, "l worked long hours, but I never worked a hard day in my life." His kids would tease him and say that his first love was his cows, then his wife, and then his kids. They would all laugh. It was a good life.
Once a year, Arnaldo would take a break and take his family to Santa Cruz. He was joined by best friends Tony and Mary Bettencourt with their two children and other friends. He wouldn't leave on vacation though, until arrangements were made with his friend Pete Bizzini to look after the dairy for him. It wasn't until 1978 that he and Maria went back to their beloved homeland for the first time, it then became a yearly tradition until Maria passed away in 2001 After that, he would travel with other family members and loved ones to share his homeland with them.
Arnoldo and Maria served as Presidents of the Modesto Portuguese Pentecost Association in 1976. He was an active parishioner at St. Stanislaus Church. He was also a member of the UPEC, Cabrillo Club of Modesto, Western United Dairymen, and Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, and an honorary member of the Filarmonica Nova Artista Acoreana de Tracy, Ca.
The Rosary Vigil will be held on Monday, April 12, at the MPPA Hall, 432 6th street, Modesto, Ca. The viewing begins at 5:00 pm and the rosary at 7:00 pm. The funeral mass will be on Tuesday, April 13th at 10:00 am at St. Stanislaus Church, 1200 Maze Blvd. Modesto, CA. Graveside services are private. A celebration of life will follow the mass at the MPPA Hall.
Words cannot express the gratitude and appreciation for our father's caregivers whom we consider family. Their love, care, and attention to our father kept him able to continue to live in his home and enjoy a good quality of life, all while enjoying his dairy. For your love and support we thank you, Sandra Ramirez, Adelino and Goretti Reis, and Sandra Melo.
