Joao Fernandes, age 93, passed away on Wed, Aug 5, 2020 at Heritage Hall East Nursing Center. He was born in Boticas, Portugal on Dec 17, 1926 to the late Alvaro and Gertrudes (Freitas) Fernandes. A Chicopee resident most of his life he was a communicant of Holy Name Parish. Joao retired as a machinist from the former Spaulding Co. Joao was predeceased by his loving wife Maria Benta (Pires) Fernandes who passed away in 2013. He leaves two sons, Jose P. Fernandes and his wife Rose Mary of Chicopee and Antonio P. Fernandes and his wife Judith of Springfield; four daughters, Linda Loughrey of Agawam, Rosa Pires of NC, Fatima Sanchez and her husband Osbaldo of FL and Michelle Chmura of Belchertown; two brothers, Amandio Fernandes and his wife Connie, Joe Fernandes and his wife Libby; one sister, Ermelinda Joao and her husband Antonio; one sister in law, Rosa Fernandes; nine grandchildren, Fernando Pires, Fred and Diane Bogalhas, Adrienne and Jolene Fernandes, Danielle and Nicole Loughrey and Nicholas and Marc Chmura; and eight great grandchildren. He is predeceased by two brothers, Antonio Fernandes and his wife and Rosa and Bento Fernandes and one sister Anna Roxo and her husband Jaime. Visiting Hours will be held on Thurs, Aug 13, 2020 from 9 am to 10:30 am at Grise Funeral Home 280 Springfield St. Chicopee with a Mass of Christian Liturgy to begin at 11 am at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in the Assumption Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.