…master carpenter, cabinet maker; 70
Tewksbury - Mr. José Manuel Valerio, age 70, died peacefully Wednesday, August 26, at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center after a decade long battle with heart disease. He was the beloved husband of Juvenalia M. “Jennifer” (Moniz) Valerio, with whom he had celebrated a forty-third wedding anniversary this past April 23.
He was born in St. Michael, Azores, Portugal in September 1944, the only child of José and Leduina V. (Estrela) Valerio, and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 29. He settled in Cambridge and Somerville, before retiring to Tewksbury.
Before coming to the U.S. he served in the Portuguese National Army, where he served in peacekeeping forces in Africa during the Angolan Civil Wars. He used his considerable talents to become a Master Carpenter. He worked mainly as a cabinet maker and carpenter, and early in his career as a casket maker in Somerville.
As a resident of Tewksbury, he was a communicant of St. Dorothy’s Church in Wilmington.
José was lovingly described as having devoted his life to God and his family.
Besides his beloved wife, he leaves two sons and daughters-in-law, Sergio and Andreia (DeMattos) Valerio of Dracut and Steve and Andrea (Castille) Valerio of Tewksbury; three adoring grandsons, Abraham Valerio of Dracut, and Julien Valerio and Lucas Valerio of Tewksbury.
Visiting hours are Sunday, August 30, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewy and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. His funeral will begin on Monday, August 31, at 8:45 from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. Dorothy’s Church, corner of Harndon and Main Sts. (Rte. 38) Wilmington. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Winchester. Visit tewksburyfuneralhome.com