Obituary of Manuel Jose Bettencourt

Manuel Jose Bettencourt, 80, husband of Maria Teixeira (dos Santos) Bettencourt, died Friday morning at the Salem Hospital with his family at his side. Mr. Bettencourt was born on February 28, 1926 in Graciosa, Azores, son of the late Jose da Sousa Bettencourt and Carlota (Espinola) Bettencourt. He was raised and educated in the Azores. While living in the Azores he served in the Portuguese Army. On April 8, 1966 he immigrated to the United States with his family and has since made his home in Peabody. Mr. Bettencourt was employed for 33 years as a machine operator at Maynard Plastic in Salem until his retirement in 1990. His entire family came was first and foremost and he would do anything for his many friends. He was one of the original founders of the Banda Recreativa Portuguese of Peabody and played the trombone for many years. He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Our Lady of Help Hall and the Brother of the Holy Ghost Society. He also enjoyed fishing and tending to his vegetable garden. In addition to his wife of Peabody, he is survived by his children and their spouses, Al and Cheri Bettencourt, Maria “Leontina” and Joseph Julien, Tim and Jan Bettencourt all of Peabody and Emanuel and Tammy Bettencourt of Danvers; 5 sisters, Conceicao Bettencourt and Glorinda Bettencourt of Peabody, Georgina Tomas, Judite Silva and Alvarina Braga of Lowell; 5 grandchildren, Craig Bettencourt Calisto of Salem, Katrina Marie Bettencourt and Scott George Bettencourt of Peabody, Taylor Cassidy Bettencourt and Kellie Marie Bettencourt of Danvers and many nieces and nephews. His funeral will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., (new location) Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours Monday 4 to 8 p.m. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown MA 02472.