Artur Picanço Bettencourt, 71 of Lowell, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 26, 2023 with his loving family by his side. He was the husband of Nidia (Silva) Bettencourt with whom he shared the last forty-seven years of marriage.
He was born in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal on July 23, 1952 and was a son of the late Jose E. Bettencourt and the late Eufruzina P. (Picanço) Bettencourt. He was raised in the Azores where he attended the area schools before enlisting with the Portuguese military serving in Guinea-Bissau during the Portuguese Colonial War in the 1970’s.
In 1983, he relocated to the United States, settling in Lowell, where he made his home his entire life. He was an active member of the Portuguese American Civic League ‘the Red’s Club’ and the Portuguese American Center ‘the Blue’s Club’; and was a communicant of St. Anthony Church. He devoted his career to working as an electronics technician assembling electronic chips, first at Printed Circuit. He also worked at the Old Mother Hubbard, amongst other jobs locally until his retirement.
Artur enjoyed playing cards, especially Sueca at the Red's and Blue’s Clubs. He was a hard working man who loved spending time tending to his garden. He had a good sense of humor and would often be the jokester of any event. Above all else, spending time with his family brought him the most happiness.
In addition to his beloved wife, Nidia Bettencourt of Lowell, he is survived by two sons, Paulo Bettencourt of Boston and Jerry Bettencourt of Lowell. He is also survived by his siblings, Durvalina Avila and her husband, Antonio of Peabody, Doralice Gil of Ontario, Canada, Arlindo Bettencourt and his wife, Ana of Salem, Claudina Silva and her husband, Manuel of Graciosa, Celerina Cunha and her husband, Constantino of Peabody, and Leonel Bettencourt of Lowell; his sister in law, Maria Bettencourt of Chelmsford; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Artur was welcomed into heaven by his parents and his brother, the late Serafim Bettencourt; his in-laws, the late Doçelinda Sousa and the late Eurico Sousa Silva, and his brother in law, the late Luis Silva.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: American Parkinson Disease Association, PO Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306 or at: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/donate/
On Wednesday, August 30, 2023 all are welcome to attend his calling hours from 9-11 a.m. at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, 978-458-6816. His funeral mass will be offered at 12 noon at St. Anthony Church, 893 Central Street, Lowell, followed by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford. Please find us on Facebook or use this website to leave the family a message of condolence at any time.