Obituary of Jose Lopes

Jose M. “Joe” Lopes passed away at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington on Monday afternoon, November 11, 2019.  The son of Maria O. Lopes and the late Manuel de Almeida Lopes, both of Lisbon Portugal.  He was 61 years old.  

Joe was born in Lisbon Portugal, the first of five siblings.  He spent his early years in Portugal until moving to the United States in 1979 at age 21. Along with his family, he lived in Brighton for about 15 years and enjoyed working with and learning from a great team of craftsman and craftswomen at Gateway Arts & Crafts in Brookline. After his brothers and sisters married, Joe, along with his mother and father, moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he enjoyed a wonderful life near his sister Paula and her family.  From Portsmouth, Joe enjoyed many trips abroad and to Boston.  Joe loved music, arts, painting and ceramic crafts, with paintings to celebrate birthdays and Christmas being among his favorite and most joyous activities of late. Joe was fluent in both English and Portuguese and never missed an opportunity to show it. Joe was an avid radio listener.  In January of 2017 Joe and his mother moved back to the Boston area where they lived close to his brothers.

Joe’s grandparents, parents, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews played an important part in his life and to them he gave his unending love. A believer in the sanctity of family, he demonstrated honest care and love without boundaries or expectations. 

Joe was born with Dow Syndrome and a heart that while physically weak proved to be a strongman’s heart. Everything he did, everyone he encountered, every though he had showed kindness and caring - a true gentle soul. He made friends everywhere and enjoyed being social. 

Joe was the Beloved son of Maria O. Lopes and the late Manuel de Almeida Lopes, both also of Lisbon Portugal.  Loving brother of Paula Saab & her husband Elie of Portsmouth, Ohio, Joao & his wife Margie of Billerica, Ricardo & his wife Gina of Middleton and Lena Rogers & her husband Paul of Plainville, CT.   Adoring uncle of Brenna & Connor Lopes, Melissa, Megan & Mathew Saab and Taylor & Morgan Rogers.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Followed by Graveside Services at Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut St., Newton Centre at 12:45 p.m.  Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend.  In lieu of flowers memorials in Joe’s name may be made to Down Syndrome Congress, 20 Burlington Mall Road, Suite 261, Burlington, MA 01803.  

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