Jose Rosario Pereira

Jose R. Pereira, 78, of Ludlow, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. Born in Porto, Portugal on Sept. 29, 1938, he was the son of the late Arnaldo and Valariana (Rosario) Pereira. Jose came to this country in December of 1985, and had lived in Ludlow for the past 30 years. He worked as grinder operator at McKinstry Industries in Chicopee for 15 years until he retired in 2002. Jose was an avid gardener and soccer fan, and loved to follow his favorite team, Benfica.

He was the father of the late Carlos Pereira, and was also predeceased by three sisters. Jose is survived by his wife of 31 years, Maria F. (Pio) Pereira, four children, Helena Amaral of Portugal, Anabela Ferreira and her husband Felipe of Portugal, Susana Correira and her husband Arnaldo of Switzerland and Frank Pereira and his wife Nucha of Ludlow, two step-children, Pedro Pereira and his wife Sandra of Ludlow, and Sandra Kozaczka and her husband Joseph of Ludlow, one brother, Arnaldo Pereira and his wife Maria of Florida, as well as his 12 grandchildren, Jose, Ines, Vanessa, Tania, Ana, Dylan, Veronica, Andreia, Alexis, Cailyn, Kyle and Kamryn, and two great-grandchildren.

The funeral for Jose will be on Tuesday, Feb. 28, gathering at 9am at Nowak Funeral & Cremation Services, 15 Ludlow Ave., Springfield followed by a Funeral Mass at 10am at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 438 Winsor St., Ludlow. Jose will then be entombed at the mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Springfield. Calling Hours will be on Monday, Feb. 27, from 5-8pm at the funeral home. For additional info., please visit www.nowakfuneral.com.