Brockton – Louis Fraga, 82, died at the VA Medical Center in Brockton on Thursday, February 19, 2009. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in December.
Louis was the son of Etelvina Bertao and Antonio Coelho Fraga and one of a Great Generation of older siblings who, from an early age, worked Fraga Farms to support their widowed mother and younger siblings. He is predeceased by siblings Delfina, Sr. Mary and Anthony. He leaves sisters: Helen Annunziato and Ethel Fraga - brothers: Joseph, Fr. Bento, George, Alfred, Edward, and Paul Fraga - a nephew, Atty. Christopher Alfred Fraga, who lovingly administered his uncle Lou’s end of life needs - and 3 generations of nieces and nephews
Louis was educated in Taunton Schools. He left high school to join the Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific Theatre aboard the Destroyer Scout, USS Colonial. After returning from War, he graduated from Taunton High School, was a premed student in Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma A+M and later graduated from Boston University with a degree in Public Health. Over the years, he worked as farm boy, carpenter’s helper, butcher and social worker.
His interests included baseball, football, reading, sailing, kayaking, hunting, fishing, picking wild blueberries and eating home made blueberry pie. But his keenest interest was in following his nieces and nephews through childhood activities, education, career, marriage and family.
Louis was a devout parishioner and Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph’s / Andrew’s Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society and the YMCA. As an active member of the Taunton River Watershed Alliance, he worked to promote Historic and Scenic Status for a river he loved to paddle.
His funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 from the O’Keefe Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington St., Taunton.Viewing Hours: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul’s / St Andrew’s, 261 Tremont St.,Taunton at 11 am. Internment at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA at 1:30pm.
Please omit flowers. Donations in his memory may be addressed to “Boston VA Voluntary Services” and sent to Atty. Christopher Alfred Fraga, 10 Commerce Way, Raynham, MA, 02767.