GLOUCESTER: John Neves, 81, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family, early Monday morning, June 4, 2012. He was the devoted husband of Judith Ann (Ball) Neves.
Born in Peabody, MA on June 15, 1930, he was the youngest child of John and Mary (Ingarnason) Neves of Portugal. At the age of five his family moved to Portugal. His brothers returned to the U.S., but after their parents passed away John and his sister, Wilhemina stayed and lived with extended family. At the age of 16, with the help of older brother Alphonse, John and Wilhelmina returned to live in Peabody. He resided there until he got married then lived on Goldsmith Avenue in Beverly before moving to their current home in Magnolia in 1972.
John was a Master Craftsman who worked for Frank Curry & Sons in Boston and Naumkeag Lumber in Salem. He worked on large projects that included work at the Christian Science Church in Boston and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. He was well respected in his field. In addition to his carpentry work he was a connoisseur of real estate. He enjoyed buying and restoring various single and multi-family homes on the North Shore.
John had a wonderful voice. In his youth he recorded a series of songs that his family enjoys listening to and will forever cherish. He enjoyed traveling to Europe, California, New Orleans and Florida and locally throughout New England with his family. “He will forever be remembered by all those that knew him as a kind, gentle and “good” man. He made us all the better just by knowing him.”
In addition to his wife Judith, he is survived by three children, Rita Young, John Neves, Jr., Norman Neves and his wife Karen; four grandchildren, Jennifer Cornforth and her husband Jay, Taryn Harrington, Emily and Marisa Neves; five great-grandchildren, Dakotah, Jack, Peter, Julia and Tehya; sisters-in-law, Sherrill Beaulieu, France Smiledge and Doris Neves; brothers-in-law, Max and Norman Ball and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also predeceased by his siblings, Albert, Alphonse and Wilhelmina Neves and parents-in-law, John and Mary Ball.
His funeral service will be held on Friday in the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gloucester at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the “Rector’s Discretionary Fund” c/o St. John’s Episcopal Church, 48 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Interment will be held in Seaside Cemetery, Lanesville.