Obituary of Celestino "Tino" Portela

Celestino “Tino” Portela, 91, of Beverly and formerly of Peabody, died Tuesday afternoon at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a brief illness. He was the devoted husband of the late Maria “Zena” Portela with whom he shared over 65 years of marriage. Born in Tras-os Montes, Portugal, he was the son of the late Francisco and Genebra (Dias) Portela. He was raised and educated in Portugal and later immigrated to the United States in 1972 where he settled with his family in Peabody. He has lived in Beverly for the past 5 years. While living in Portugal, he served with the Portugal Army for over 24 years and was stationed in Angola. Upon his arrival in the United States in 1972 he immediately began learning the English language and received his high school equivalency diploma in 1980. He had a true love of this country and valued a good education. While living in the United States he was employed as a machinist and assembler for Foss Manufacturing before he retired. Tino was proud of his dual citizenship of the United States of America and Portugal. Tino was a member of the CLC Club in Peabody; he loved nature and the outdoors and enjoyed making the whole world smile. He was a much-disciplined man who enjoyed exercising regularly and he would always say its mind over matter. His favorite part of life was spending time with his family and sharing in all of their activities; he was truly loved by all and will be dearly missed. He is survived by his two daughters, Lisdalia Silva and Maria Mello, his two sons-in-law, Joseph H. Silva and Jack Mello, his sister-in-law, Maria Emilia and her husband Albert Carva of Peabody, his three grandchildren, Stacey and her husband Richard Boccelli, Jr, Sarah and her husband Michael Arcangelo, and Andrew Mello, his special God-Child, Maria Jose Portela and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two brothers, Avelino and Alexandre Portela. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 9:00 until 11:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Ann’ Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St, Danvers, MA 01923 or the MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130.