Leonel Joaquim de Freitas
LOWELL Leonel Joaquim de Freitas, 92, of Lowell, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 26, 2022, at Lowell General Hospital with his son, Orlando, by his side. In January of 1959, He married the love of his life, Maria F. (Silva) Freitas, and shared Forty Five years of Marriage with her before her death in 2004.
A son of the late Aires J. de Freitas and the late Arsenia (Escorcio) de Freitas, he was born February 21, 1929, on Madeira Island and grew up and was educated there. While in Madeira, he worked in a warehouse and then before coming to the United States, he was a cemetery foreman.
In his younger days, he played soccer for União from 1948-1954. He loved soccer and F.C. Porto was his favorite team to watch as well as Marítimo and Nacional. He had trained in Madeira with Medina of Real Madrid. In addition to time spent with family, he enjoyed all sports, politics, and history.
On July 9, 1972, he moved with his family to the United States making his home in Lowell’s Back Central Street Neighborhood. For many years he worked for Currier Citizen before working for Coca Cola prior to his retirement.
His survivors include his children, Teresa M. de Freitas of FL, Zelia Melo and her husband, Bob, of Hudson, NH, Orlando de Freitas of Lowell, Maria P. Jones and her husband, Brian, of Nashua, NH, Joseph H. de Freitas and his wife Dana of Plaistow, NH, and Duarte Freitas and his wife Sonia, of Pittsburgh, PA; his eight grandchildren, Jason, Brian, Josh, Justin, Jonathan, Nichole, Alex, and Ava; four great grandchildren, Kaynan, Jayliana, Kyle, and Emily; as well as several nieces and nephews Leonel was predeceased by his siblings.
The funeral for Leonel will take place privately. Arrangements by the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 Nesmith Street, 978-452-6361. Please visit www.MAHONEYFUNERALHOME.COM at any time to send the family your condolences.
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