Francisco S. "Frank" Rocha, 77, of Wareham died February 12, 2003 unexpectedly at home.
He was the former husband of Anna (Rogers) Rocha of New Bedford,and son of the late Severiano and Carolina (Almeida) Rocha.
Mr. Rocha was born in New Bedford and had lived in New Bedford for most of his life before moving to Wareham 8 years ago.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in New Bedford.
Mr. Rocha was formerly employed as a merchant seaman for the Exxon Corporation for many years until his retirement. He served as a Merchant Mariner during World War II.
Mr. Rocha was a charter member of the Merchant Mariners Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Connecticut.
Survivors include his former wife; 4 sons, Leonard F. Rocha, and his wife Brenda, Severiano "Buddy" Rocha, and Leslie Thomas Rocha, and his wife Maria, all of New Bedford, and Lee D. Rocha, and his wife Pauline, of Waterford, CT; 2 daughters, Linda Nalle, and her husband Reginald, of Portsmouth, RI and Lynne Rucker, and her husband Bennett, of Stuart, VA; a brother, Luiz Rocha of Dover, Delaware; 3 sisters, Ezabel Andrade of South Dartmouth, and Grace Cruz and Maria Almeida, both of New Bedford; his best friend, Henry F. Rogers of Scituate; 14 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New BedfordSaturday, February 15th at 8 AM.Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 9 AM.Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Visiting hours Friday, February 14th from 4-7 PM.
Private interment Tuesday at the Massachusetts National Cemetery.