Obituary of Joao Tomaz

Joao Tomaz,86, passed away Wednesday evening at the North Shore Medical Center-Salem Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of Maria (da Guia) Tomaz, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage. Joao was born in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal, on January 16, 1931, son of the late Alexandrinho and Maria Perpetua (Lobao) Tomaz. He was raised and educated there, also served in the Portuguese Army, until moving to Tulare, California in 1958 and then settling in Peabody in 1966. Prior to his retirement, he worked as a machine operator at Maynards Plastics in Salem.. He was a faithfully devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Peabody, and also a member of the Azorean Brotherhood of the Divine Holy Ghost, also in Peabody. He also enjoyed woodworking, gardening a variety of vegetables, traveling to Portugal, especially his home island of Graciosa, but most importantly being surrounded by his loving family. Besides his loving wife of 60 years, he is survived by his two sons and their wives, John A. & Ann Tomaz, Fernando M Tomaz and Kathleen McCormick; a daughter and her husband, Deolinda Tomaz-Gomes and Saul Gomes; his grandchildren, Christina Gomes, John E. Tomaz and his wife Maura, SPC Alexandre T. Gomes, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army, and Patrick Tomaz; a sister, Evelina Barcamonte, sisters-in-law, Donalda Tomaz, and Ildete Tomaz; and many nieces and nephews. His was predeceased by his siblings, Antonio, Afonso, Alexandre, Jose Tomaz, Maria Bettencourt, Etelvina Gomes, and Manuel Tomaz. A Visitation will be held on Monday, September 11 from 5 – 8P.M. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St. in Peabody. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, September 12 at the funeral home at 8A.M. followed by a funeral mass in Our Lady of Fatima Church, 50 Walsh Ave., Peabody at 9A.M. He will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.