Joao J. Rodrigues, 87, of New Bedford died Sunday May 15, 2011 at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness. He was the husband of Madalena M. (Mingola) Rodrigues; they had been married for 51 years.
Born in Brava, Cape Verde, the son of the late Jose and Laura (Pina) Rodrigues, he lived in New Bedford for the past 51 years.
He was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church.
Mr. Rodrigues was formerly employed as a cook at the Outpost in Dartmouth, and for Merry Chapman Scott in New York while serving in the Merchant Marine.
Survivors include his wife; five children, Joseph Rodrigues of Arizona, Ana Michael and her husband Philip, and Laura Gilmore, all of Florida, John S. Rodrigues of Rhode Island; and Sandra Crowell and her husband Ronald of Dartmouth; a brother, Jose Rodrigues of New Bedford; a sister, Wilhelmina Senna of New Bedford; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Maria J. Rodrigues and Julio Rodrigues.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 9 AM at St. John the Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 3-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.