Joseph E. Duarte
Beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather
CHELMSFORD
Joseph E. Duarte, 90, formally of Lowell, passed away after a brief
illness on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Lowell General Hospital. He was
the husband of Francelina (Bettencourt) Duarte with whom he shared the
last 66 years.
He was born in Santa Cruz, Graciosa, Portugal on March 7, 1928 and was a son of the late Manuel E. Duarte and the late Germina (De Santo) Duarte. He was raised in Graciosa, where he worked as a farmer in the vineyards. He also joined the Portuguese Army.
In 1960, he relocated to the United States, settling in Lowell. He made
his home on Charles Street, then Chapel Street, before buying a home on
Wamesit Street. In 2016, he moved out of Lowell and settled in
Chelmsford, where he lived the rest of his life.
In his younger days, he worked for Lowell Shoe Shop, before becoming a machine operator for Wakefield Industries and Symphonics. He retired from Pellon in the late 1980’s.
Joseph was a deeply religious and a devoted
communicant of St. Anthony Church in Lowell and a member of the
Portuguese American Civic League, ‘the Red’s Club’. Joseph was an avid
soccer fan and was a devoted Benfica supporter and he enjoyed playing
dominos. Although he has many passions throughout his life, spending
time with his family, especially gathering for a family meal, brought
him the most happiness.
In addition to his wife, Francelina of
Chelmsford, he is survived by his daughter, Mary A. Urbowicz and her
husband, Robert of Chelmsford; his granddaughter, Stacie L. Sirois and
her husband, Scott of Chelmsford; and his great grandson, Holden Sirois
of Chelmsford, additionally, he is survived by Amy Urbowicz, who was
like a granddaughter to him. He is also survived by three brothers,
Gabriel Duarte and his wife, Barbara, of Lowell, Orlando Duarte and his
wife, Mary of Dracut, and John Espinola and his wife, Barbara of
Tennessee, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Joseph was predeceased by two brothers, the late Eurico Duarte, the late Tony Duarte and his wife, Mary.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS FROM 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. ON THURSDAY,
MARCH 7.
ON FRIDAY, HIS FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816.
HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED FRIDAY AT ST. ANTHONY CHURCH, 893 CENTRAL STREET, LOWELL AT 10 A.M.. BURIAL IN ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY.
