Obituary of Joao Antunes

Joao Antunes, 63, of Peabody, died Wednesday evening at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers with his family by his side after an 18 month illness. He was the loving husband of Leonor M. (Nunes) Antunes with whom he shared 39 years of marriage. Joao was born in Castelo-Branco, Portugal on March 25, 1948, the son of the late Manuel and Julia (dos Anjos) Antunes and had resided there before coming to Peabody, MA in 1977. He was first employed in the plastic industry in Peabody and later worked at the Bicknell-Fuller Paper Co., Peabody and then at the Atwood Morrill Co. in Salem. For the past six years, he had been a custodian at the Salem State University in Salem. Joao had been an avid soccer fan and was a member of the C.L.C. Soccer team in Peabody in his earlier years. He also liked to read and catch up on his family back in Portugal and would frequently visit them. What mattered most to Joao was his family and seeing them grow and being for them in any way he could. Surviving him besides his wife Leonor, are a son and daughter-in-law, David and Kristin Valente of Haverhill, a daughter, Diane Antunes of No Reading, a sister and brother-in-law, Luisa and Belarmino “Bill” Martins of Peabody, his cherished grandchildren, Jacob and Avery Valente of Haverhill, a nephew, Michael Martins of Peabody and many loving friends. A Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-BRodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. His funeral will be held on Monday at 9:00 AM from the Funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody/Salem line at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.