Obituary of Delmar R. Modesto

Delmar R. Modesto, a resident of Burlington for 67 years passed on Tuesday morning, September 3, 2024.  He was 89 years old.  Delmar was born in Cambridge.  He was the only son of Portuguese immigrants, Modesto and Maria Modesto.  The family lived in Cambridge until he was nine years old and then moved to Somerville.  It was a home filled with Portuguese traditions and values. He even played the trumpet in a Portuguese marching band as a youth.  Delmar married his wife Alice at the age of 20 in Fatima, Portugal.  They returned to the United States and settled in Burlington in 1957. They had two sons, James and Anthony, and they instilled upon their sons the many Portuguese traditions and values that they both grew up with as children themselves.   Both English and Portuguese was spoken in the home.  Delmar also kept his Portuguese connections as a member of the Cambridge Portuguese American Club. 

Delmar was a proud and independent man who never shied away from hard work.  He worked in a shoe factory when he was young.  He then worked at Boston Woven Hose for a number of years.  He then took a position as a delivery driver for Nissen Bread which led to Bond Bread which ended with Genest Bread.  He serviced restaurants and stores all around Boston.  One customer was Fenway Park.  He knew the streets of the Boston area like the back of his hand.  He knew the chefs and staff at many of the restaurants and definitely had some favorites. 

Delmar and Alice had 54 wonderful years together.  They traveled back to Gouvia, Portugal, numerous times over the years to visit family and friends.  They loved to entertain at their home and around the pool.  There were annual summer vacations at the White Village Cottages in Truro.  They also enjoyed testing their luck at the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut.   As a father, Delmar pushed his sons to become strong independent young men and wanted them to have the opportunities like a college education that he did not have growing up.  He was proud of their successes and overjoyed with the gift of grandchildren and great grandchildren.  As a grandfather or “VuVu” he was much easier going, loved playing in the pool with them, and put down his guard.  In his leisure time, he enjoyed playing pool, and following the Patriots and Bruins.  Delmar worked hard for everything he earned, was extremely independent right up to the end, and never wanted to burden anyone.  He was a proud man who was blessed to see his family grow with six grandchildren and spouses and nine great grandchildren.

Delmar was the beloved husband of the late Alice (Lameiras) Modesto, who passed in 2009.  He was the proud father of James Modesto & his wife Terri of Goffstown, NH and Anthony Modesto & his wife Mari of Billerica.  He was the grandfather of Nicholas Modesto of Lebanon, NH, Leah Partlow & her husband Michael of Goffstown, NH, Jamie Canney & her husband Paul of Stoneham, Melanie Napoli & her husband John of Danville, NH, Melissa and Bobby Soares of Tewksbury, and Linsey Pennel of Conway, SC.  He was the great grandfather of Tyra, Landon, Sean, Thomas, Dominic, Gianna, Joshua, Cameron, and Nicholas.  He was also survived by a dear companion, Lourdes Silva, who gave his last years meaning and joy.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Thursday, September 5 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Friday, September 6 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, 111 Winn Street, Burlington at 10 a.m.  Services will conclude with a burial at Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. 

Memorials in Delmar’s name may be made to the National Kidney Foundation,  209 W Central St, Natick, MA 01760, https://www.kidney.org/offices/nkf-serving-new-england. 

For online guestbook and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net