March 29, 2024

Joaquim Gomes Viana

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Joaquim Gomes Viana, 73, passed away Tuesday, September 18, 2018, a victim of a stroke while on vacation in his beloved homeland, Portugal. He is survived by his son, Mark Viana (Whitney); his daughter Kelly Soares (Kevin); and four grandchildren, Gemma and Joaquim Viana, and Rosa and Viana Soares.

Joaquim, known to his friends as Quim or Jack, was born in Portugal on January 19, 1945, the son of the late Artur João Gomes Viana and Margarida da Silva Ferreira. He immigrated to the United States after his marriage to the late Eulalia (Varzeo) Viana, with whom he shared 44 years of marriage. Eulalia and Joaquim made their home in Rumford, Rhode Island for thirty years, where they raised their two children. Jack briefly lived in Maryland before moving to Norwood, Massachusetts in 2015.

Jack had a strong work ethic, employed as a construction worker with Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 271 in Providence for over thirty years where he counted many friends. Jack was a skilled gardener and known for his beautiful lawn, grapevines and abundant tomato crops on Wilson Avenue in Rumford. He was an avid soccer fan and instilled his love of S. L. Benfica in his children and grandchildren. Jack was an active member of the Norwood Portuguese Club, where he enjoyed good food, strong friendships and traditional Portuguese dancing.

Jack will be remembered as a selfless and devoted husband to Eulalia, whom he cared for through her illness. He was a loving father to Mark and Kelly and was their rock. Most especially, he shone in his role as Vovô Quim to his grandchildren, who were the jewels of his eyes. He was a simple, modest, humble man and will forever be in our hearts and minds.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 at 9:00 AM from the Perry-McStay Funeral Home, 2555 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Saint Francis Xavier Church, 81 North Carpenter Street, East Providence. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018 from 5:00-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation or online at https://wwwmichaeljfox.org.

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