TAUNTON – Robert "Gonk" Gonsalves, died peacefully at the Veterans Transition House of New Bedford, on Dec. 16, 2015, after a brief battle with lung cancer.
He was 67.
Born in Taunton, he was the son of the late James and Antonia (Monteiro) Gonsalves.
A Vietnam veteran, “Gonk” was a lifelong area resident, residing in New Bedford for the past 15 years where he worked in construction and actively participated in his recovery community.
Robert was affiliated with the Veterans Transition House of New Bedford, helping others on the road to recovery, and enjoyed playing and coaching softball, and karaoke.
Survivors include 5 daughters, Christine (Gonsalves) Stevenson of Taunton, Tina Smith and TammyYost both of Missouri, Alishia (Gonsalves) Sommers of Raynham, and Tailyn Gonsalves of East Bridgewater; two sons, Eric Peters of Taunton, and Travis Gonsalves of Raynham; 4 sisters, Anna Barros of New Bedford, Mary Lou Antone, and Antonia Monteiro, both of Newport, RI, and Jo-Ann Lopes of Taunton; 3 grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was also the brother to the late Dolores Barboza, Amelia Sanders, James Gonsalves Jr., Isabel Monteiro, Alfred Gonsalves, Hilda Avellar and Samuel Gonsalves.
Funeral Services will be held at the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Taunton on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 12:30 p.m.
The family will be receiving visitors from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the services.
Burial will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Veterans Transition House, 20 Willis Street New Bedford, MA. 02740.
www.silvafuneralhome.com