Paulo P. Oliveira, 76, of New Bedford died Thursday February 23, 2012 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Maria Zelia (Melo) Oliveira.
Born in Ribeira Quente, São Miguel, Açores, the son of the late Manuel Bento Oliveira and Maria Melo (Peixoto) Oliveira, he lived in New Bedford since 1969.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Mr. Oliveira was was formerly employed by Copper Craft Guild and had worked as a fisherman out of the Port of New Bedford.
He loved painting and fishing and enjoyed spending time with his friends playing cards.
Survivors include his wife; nine children, Paul Oliveira and his wife Brenda, Esperanca Melo and her husband Jose, Antonio Oliveira, Nelson Oliveira and his wife Olga, Fatima Sylvia and her husband Steve, and Fernando Oliveira, all of New Bedford, Luis Oliveira and his wife Adelaide and Joe Oliveira and his wife Connie, all of Assonet, and Octavio Oliveira and his wife Elsie of Freetown; two brothers, John Oliveira of the Azores and Antonio Oliveira and his wife Adelina of New Bedford; 18 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was the grandfather of the late Amanda Oliveira, father-in-law of the late Joanne Oliveira, and brother of the late Manuel Oliveira, Jose Oliveira, Fernando Oliveira, Alice Vieira, and Conceicao Xavier.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 9 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 3-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.