GLOUCESTER: Antonio D.F. Pata, 77, died Tuesday, June 4, 2013 surrounded by his loving family in the Addison Gilbert Hospital following an extended illness. He was the beloved husband of Maria Alice (Oliveira) Pata.
Born in Ilhavo, Portugal on September 12, 1935, he was the son of the late Domingos and Conceicao (Brites) Pata. He had lived in Portugal for many years before immigrating to the United States and settling in Gloucester on October 1965.
Antonio, along with his brother and best friend John, had the fishing vessel “Our Lady of the Sea” built and fished out of Gloucester for many years before his retirement in 1997. He had also worked as a machinist at Gloucester Engineering for sixteen years. He was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand to all his family and friends constantly placing everyone ahead of himself. He also loved to vacation back to his homeland of Portugal sharing his home there with his family and friends.
In addition to his loving wife of fifty-five years, he is survived by his daughter, Connie Favazza and her husband, Matteo of Italy; three sons, Tony J. Pata and his wife, Trisha, Jack Pata and his wife, Linda and Joe "Zé" Pata and his wife, Melissa all of Gloucester; eight grandchildren, Cristina, Veronica, Victoria, Julianna, Sophia, Luke, Talia and Ava; a brother, John Pata and his wife, Randi and son John Pata, Jr. of Gloucester and many more family members.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, Prospect St., Gloucester at 9:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle St., Gloucester from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery.