Joseph Gonsalves Jr. went to his final rest on Tuesday September 14, 2021. He was born in New Bedford on September 27, 1937 and lived in New Bedford for most of his life.
He was the husband of Nancy A. (Shurtleff) Gonsalves, father of Kathy Jo Mandeville, Joseph Gonsalves III, and Gary S. Gonsalves, grandfather to Heather Gonsalves, Matthew J. Gonsalves, Christopher M. Gonsalves, James W. Albert, Ashley M. Gonsalves, and Samantha R. Saylor, and great-grandfather to Dyllin Monaghan and his favorite girl Brooklynn C. Gonsalves. He is also survived by his sisters, Bette A. (Gonsalves) Reed and Rosemarie (Taylor) Epstein and her husband Louis; his brother, John Gonsalves and wife Nancy; his stepsisters, Rosemarie (Gonsalves) Forsblom, Doreen Gonsalves, and Darleen (Gonsalves) Nunes and her husband Joe; his stepbrother, Arnold Gonsalves; his best friends, George “Bucky” and Peggy Atkinson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was the son of the late Joseph Gonsalves Sr. and Sylvia (Gonsalves) Taylor, the son-in-law of the late Marion and James Thomas Sr., and the brother of the late Lawrence Gonsalves, Ronald Gonsalves, Robert Gonsalves, Robert Taylor, and Leonora (Gonsalves) Reed.
Joseph had been a member of the United States Air Force serving in Guam and Hawaii. He was member of Hope Evangelical Community Church.
He worked as a deckhand on several scalloping boats, as a carpenter, and at Acushnet Company as a press operator. He was a Boy Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, and was very handy at crafts, especially Christmas decorations. His decorations are on the Christmas trees of many family members and friends every year. He roller skated at Hot Wheels Skating Ring for many years and went on to the National Championship skating competition. He was a life member of the Rod and Gun Club of New Bedford. He was also a volunteer at the Special Olympics for many years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
His memorial service will be held at Hope Evangelical Community Church, 88 Hathaway Road., Dartmouth, on Saturday October 2, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford. In lieu flowers, please consider a donation to Special Olympics of Massachusetts, 512 Forest St., Marlboro, MA 01752 or Clear Thoughts Foundation, 3000 Village Run Road, Unit 103, Wexford, PA 15090. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.