Ernesto B. "Neto" Soares, 77, of New Bedford died October 30, 2009 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness.
He was the husband of Eugenia (Rodrigues) Soares.
Born in Brava, Cape Verde, the son of the late Miguel and Adelina (Monteiro) Soares, he lived in Santa Catarina, Santiago, Cape Verde for many years before moving to New Bedford in 1983.
Mr. Soares was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
He was formerly employed by several local fish houses.
Mr. Soares was a member of the Bisca Club and enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include his wife; 6 daughters, Maria DeOliveira and her husband Jose, Laura Amado and her husband Manuel, Adelina Soares, Ernestina Soares and Constance Soares, all of New Bedford and Beatriz Soares of Atlanta; 2 brothers, Jose Monteiro Soares of Providence and Aniceto Soares of Portugal; 5 sisters, Alda Monteiro Degraca of Brava, Cape Verde, Aldina Soares of Providence, Armanda Soares, Leoniza Soares and Zinha Soares, all of Santiago, Cape Verde; 7 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Ernesto Soares, Jr.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 9 AM in Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home For Funerals, 495 Park St. New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.