Jose D. Furtado, 77, of New Bedford passed away peacefully at home on Friday December 6, 2013 surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Maria Fatima (Rodrigues) Furtado, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.
Born in Riberinha, St. Michael, Azores, the son of the late Faustino and Irene (Libano) Furtado, he lived in New Bedford since 1970.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Mr. Furtado was formerly employed as a landscaper for Heritage Plantation in Sandwich until his retirement.
He was a skilled woodworker and an avid gardener.
He attended Project Independence Day Care.
Survivors include his wife; eight children, Joseph Furtado and his wife Wendy of Westport, Lucia Souza, Grace Costa, Ivo Furtado and his wife Lucy, Daniel Furtado, and Suzanne Walker and her husband James, all of New Bedford, Sandra Moniz of Peabody, and Ronald Furtado and his wife Natalie of Dartmouth; a sister, Esmeria Medeiros of Canada; 18 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the grandfather of the late Ryan Moniz and the brother of the late Amorzinha Rodrigues, Faustino Furtado, and Daniel Furtado.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 9 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.