Januario L. Leal, 75 of Lowell, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Monday, February 28, 2022 at Lowell General Hospital. He was the husband of Fernanda (DeSousa) Leal with whom he shared the last 52 years of marriage.
He was born in Sao Bras Terceira, Azores, Portugal on October 15, 1946 and was a son of the late Januario and Maria (Linhares) Leal. He was raised in Terceira, where he attended the area schools. While in Terceira, he operated his father’s convenience store for several years.
In 1970, Januario relocated to the United States with his wife, Fernanda, settling in Lowell’s Back Central Street Neighborhood. He was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church. He was also a member of the Portuguese American Civic League “The Reds Club,” the Portuguese American Center “The Blues Club,” and the Holy Ghost Society.
After immigrating to Lowell, he worked at Paris Shoe as a machine operator until 1978. He later began working for Bradford Industries, formerly known as Pandel, as an inspector until his retirement.
Januario was a jokester at heart. He loved being a videographer and maintained the Januario Leal YouTube channel which is referred to as “Leal Videos.” He enjoyed recording the events happening in the Portuguese community, especially the processions and festivals. He was well known in the Portuguese Carnaval community after participating for several years. He loved caring for his exotic fish, fishing, gardening, making wine, and traveling back to Terceira to spend time with family where he attended and recorded festivals and bullfights. Every Sunday, he enjoyed eating his wife’s homemade Portuguese food, playing cards, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and family.
In addition to his wife, Fernanda, he is survived by his four children, Roberta Agostinho and her husband, Fabio of Nashua, Alizabete Brum and her husband, George of Lowell, Davido Leal and his fiancé, Danielle Martins of Clovis, California, and Roberto Leal and his wife, Jessica of Tewksbury; his thirteen grandchildren, Vanessa Porter and her husband, Joshua, Victoria Giasullo and her husband, Nicholas, Francisco Laureano, Brandon Boyle, David Leal Jr. and his wife, Theresa, Christopher Boyle, Aidan Leal, Lilyanna Leal, Nathan Leal, Luis Leal, Holli Martin, Leland Martin, Desiree Leal, and his great granddaughter, Lyla Leal.
He is also survived by his siblings, Inocencia Nunes and her husband, Jose of California, Alexandrina Figueiredo and her husband, Jose of Lowell, and Lucia Silva and her husband, Jorge of Lowell.; his brothers and sisters in law, Fatima Lucas and her husband, Joao, Maria Azevedo, Cecilia Clark and her husband, Marcelino Mendes, and Manuel DeSousa and his wife, Zita.
On Friday, March 4, 2022, all are welcome to attend his calling hours from 4-7 p.m. at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell 978-458-6816.
His funeral will begin on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Anthony Church, 893 Central Street, Lowell, followed by his funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in the church. Burial at St. Patrick Cemetery.
For those who can not attend, his funeral service and burial will be streamed for live viewing or for viewing after the service is completed at: Service Streaming Link