Jose Raposo DeMelo

Jose Raposo DeMelo ""Papa Joe"", 82, of East Hartford, husband of the late Maria (Camara) DeMelo passed away Thursday (January 8, 2015) surrounded by loving family. He was born June 12, 1932 in Santa Maria, Acores, Portugal and was the son of the late Manuel Tavares de Melo and Maria das Dores de Melo. Jose served in the Portuguese Army from 1953 to 1956 and he retired from Kessler Construction in 1994. He loved gardening, music, making wine and wood working, but his ultimate love was spending time with family. He is survived by 8 children, Maria Bylina and her husband Steve of Wethersfield, Valquiria Pina of Wethersfield, Jose Melo Jr. and Norberto Melo both of Portugal, Francisco Melo and his wife, Jeanette of Hartford, Vera Cruz and her husband Joao of Florida, John Melo and Kari King of Somers, and Irene Melo of Hartford. Jose was also predeceased by 2 sons, Duarte Melo and Tiberio Melo. He also leaves behind brothers; Joao Melo, Antonio Tavares and Jaime De Melo; grandchildren, Derek and David Bylina, Jacqueline Giangrave and Christine Formica, Clarissa, Kasandra and Justin Melo, Dezmond Melo, Destin Rodriguez and Sienna Melo and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will leave on Friday at 9 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima, 50 Kane St., Hartford. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Calling hours are Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD. 20852. For online expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com