Manuel Melo Vieira (Cardadeira) 82, died peacefully on December 24, 2016 surrounded by his family at Longmeadow Nursing home in Raynham, MA.
Manuel was born on February 24, 1934 in Povoação, São Miguel, Azores, son of the late Jacinto and Angelina (Rezendes) Serodio.
While in the Azores, he made a living working a dairy farm and agriculture. He also played the tuba in the town’s philharmonic for a number of years where he was invited to process in numerous processions throughout the island. He also participated in the Romeria pilgrimage, walking and praying through out the whole island one week during lent. Manuel moved with his wife and six children to Taunton, MA , in May of 1977 in search of a better life for his family. He worked in Walk-Over Shoe Company in Bridgewater from 1977 until the company closed in 1992. Then, he was known as Papa, when he worked at Dunkin Donuts in Wareham as a donut finisher, from 1994 until he retired in 2002.
Manuel was a dedicated husband and father. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren especially during the holidays. Manuel was passionate about his garden, from planting vegetables, pruning his fruit trees, tending to his grapevine, and keeping up with the Azorean tradition of making wine every September. He also loved Portuguese cuisine, especially homemade dishes made by his loving wife. He was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Taunton and participated in the traditional Holy Ghost by ordering penções from several local irmandades.
He was the beloved husband of 56 years of Maria José Franco Vieira of Taunton. He is also survived by his children Manuel Vieira and his wife Fernanda of Taunton, José Luis Vieira and his wife Margarida of Raynham, Cecilia Pimental and her husband Dinarte of East Falmouth, Dennis Vieira of Taunton, Carmen Dwyer of Buzzards Bay, and his late son Tony Vieira of Taunton. Manuel is also survived by ten grandchildren, Daryl and Daniel Vieira of Taunton, Keith Pimental of New Bedford, Jessica Vieira of Fall River, Amanda Pimental of Bridgewater, Mike Richman of Buzzards Bay, Ashley Vieira of Taunton, Anthony, Nina and Keegan Vieira of Brockton, and three great grandchildren Leanna Vieira, Aveah Richman O’Connor and Noah Vieira Clark. He is also survived by his siblings Maria Medeiros of Taunton, the late Francelina Bolieiro, the late José Melo , Evelina Moniz of Taunton, and Diniz Serodio of Berkley. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews in the US, Canada and the Azores.
Mr. Vieira’s funeral will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 9 AM from the Silva Funeral Home 80 Broadway, Taunton, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM in St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, Taunton. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 475 E. Britannia Street, Taunton.
Visiting hours will be held in the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Taunton, Friday, December 30 from 4 to 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Association.
For online expressions of sympathy or to sign an online guestbook, visit www.silvafuneralhome.com