Obituary of Sebastiao Tavares Marques Branquinho

Sebastiao Tavares Marques Branquinho, 71, of Peabody died Friday at the Rosewood Nursing Center, Peabody after a long illness. He was the husband of Rosa Isabel (Crisostomo) Branquinho with whom they just celebrated their 50 Th wedding anniversary on April 2. He was born in Belver, Portugal on May 7th, 1934, the son of the late Manuel and Herminia Goncalves (Tavares) Branquinho and later resided in Lisbon before coming to Peabody in 1968. He was first employed in the leather industry and later worked at the Osram Sylvania Loring Ave., Salem plant for over 25 years prior to his retirement. He was very active in the Portuguese Community in Peabody and the North Shore and had started the Portuguese Radio Program - Hondas Hertizianas de Portugal AM in the Danvers/Beverly and FM in the Lynn Area. He was a member and secretary of the Club Luis de Camoes of Peabody. He also founded the Rancho Folclorico de Peabody and received many awards at the Folcloric Groups of New England Spring Festivals. He had been a newspaper correspondent for the Diario Noticias of New Bedford, Diario Popular of Cambridge and the Luso-American of New Jersey. He later was a founder and director of Grupo Etnografico Portugal dos Pequeninos which is dedicated to teach children about Portuguese Culture through songs and dances. He had been a member of the Portuguese Benefit Society of Our Lady of Help and the Portuguese American Veterans Post 1 of Peabody. He was honored last year by the Massachusetts House or Representatives for his ongoing dedication and the Preservation of the Portuguese Culture and Heritage. Surviving him besides his wife are two daughters, Maria C. Branquinho and Fatima Branquinho, both teachers at Peabody Vets. Memorial High School of Peabody, a sister, Olivia Tavares Matos and a brother, Antonio Tavares Marques both of Portugal, a brother-in-law, Henrique Crisostomo and a sister-in-law, Palmira Crisostomo both of Peabody , his grand-daughter Tania Machado of Salem and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Jesuina Ribeiro. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 12 Chestnut St., Peabody facility. His funeral will be held on Monday at 9:00 am from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Walsh Ave., Peabody at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary’ s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy may be made to a Portuguese charity of your choice.