At the age of 13, he started working in construction all around the island of Terceira and at 17, he went to work for the city of Angra do Heroismo. In 1961, he married Belmira Da Silva and they lived in Cinco Ribeiras. They had four children: Celina Virginia Freitas of Kingsburg, Claudina Maria Roton (Kevin) of Turlock, Belmira Da Silva of Hilmar, and José Dioclecio Mendes of Hilmar. During the last years in Terceira, he worked for Junta Automatica Dos Portos as a diver.
In 1973, José brought his family to America, where he worked in the dairy business for eleven years. Afterward, he worked for Freitas Fresh Eggs and used all of his experience in construction to his success for fourteen years before his health declined.
He left us peacefully and surrounded by his family at home under hospice care on Sunday, June 10, 2018.
Mr. Mendes is survived by: his wife Belmira Mendes of Hilmar; son Joe Mendes of Hilmar; daughter Celina Freitas of Kingsburg; daughter Claudina Roton (Kevin) of Turlock; daughter Belmira da Silva (Beto Iniguez) of Hilmar; sister Maria Liberalina Enes of Tulare; sister Maria de Lourdes Coelho of Tulare; and brother George Mendes of Turlock. He also leaves behind fourteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren to honor his memory.
José was preceded in death by his grandson Manuel Delgado as well as his parents Jaime do Santos Mendes and Virginia Augusta da Silva.
There will be a recitation of the rosary at 7:00 PM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church: 8471 Cypress Street, Hilmar, California.
A funeral mass will occur at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 22, 2018 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church: 8471 Cypress Street, Hilmar, California. He will be laid to rest immediately following mass at N. Hilmar Cemetery District: 8710 N. Tegner Road, Hilmar, California.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/turlock-ca/whitehurst-norton-dias-funeral-service/7044 for the Mendes family.
