New Bedford – Joao “Jose” Pelicas, age 77 of New Bedford, passed away on Thursday November 23, 2017. He was the husband of the late Maria D. (Valente) Pelicas and son of the late Maria DaLuz (Ferreira) and Joao Pelicas.
Joao was born in Ilhavo, Portugal and moved to the New Bedford area in August of 1975. He was a member and founder of the United Fishermans Club and Seafarers International Union. Joao was a Commercial fisherman and took to the Waterfront at an early age, at 14 he enrolled in the Portuguese fishing academy, at 16 he became a fisherman of the Portuguese White Fleet and was a merchant Marine in Portugal and Holland. In 1975 when he moved to the U.S. at the age of 34, he became a fisherman until his retirement.
He is survived by his sons, Fernando Pelicas and his Fiance Angela, Pedro Pelicas and his wife Elizabeth “Beta”, John Pelicas and his wife Grace and Ernesto Miguel Pelicas and his wife Elizabeth; grandchildren, Melissa, Joseph, Nicole, Jeffrey, Alex, Rebecca, Kevin, Andrew and Preston; also 2 great grandchildren; his companion, Barbara Rushing and her children; his sister Lurdes; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Adelaide, Bernadete, Rosa, and Margarida.
Joao’s visiting hours will be held Monday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be Tuesday morning, beginning in the funeral home at 9:30 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 10:30 A.M. Burial will immediately follow in St. Johns Cemetery. Cemetery.
Arrangements are placed in the care of Perry Funeral Home 111 Dartmouth St. New Bedford, MA 02740. Please see our website: www.perryfuneral.com for condolences.