Jose “Joe” Lopes

Joe was always in motion. Most days he got his 10,000 steps in before daybreak, strolling around Locke Ave Park. Early to bed, early to rise, he had seen more sunrises than just about anyone. Family was always his first priority, but he was also there for his community: 1976 found him being Man of the Year in Roselle Park for his work constructing ball fields for the neighborhood kids. And if his neighbors needed a hand he’d come running to the rescue, shovel in hand. He worked in construction where they often sought solutions from Joe rather than the architects and engineers: they offered knowledge from the university, his came from the school of hard knocks. It was a type of learning that never stopped. A work ethic second to none, everything perfectly straight, everything perfectly level. That aesthetic carried over to his personal life: even in his eighties he took on the epic task of dismantling his patio to make sure all the hardscape was just right. When he moved to Woolwich he created a garden. Actually, it was more like a small farm: well thought out and perfectly tended with rows that were laser straight. Any of his remaining property featured an array of fruit trees: figs, apple, cherry, pears. Of course, his real calling was as a grandfather. Grandpa Joe was always there for anything they needed; supporting them in all their activities and also supplying endless amounts of fruit and vegetables from his garden. Relaxing times found him doing a little pheasant hunting, his German Short Haired Pointers by his side and regaling stories from his youth: Joe remembered everything in vivid detail. He loved soccer (Portugal, Benfica, Tottenham), old cowboy movies and the occasional cat nap.
A young Joe met a pretty girl named Candida at the yearly Portuguese picnic. They’d spend some time exchanging letters before embarking on a 59-year marriage blessed by many laughs, shared core values and 4 children, Jay (Mary Ann), Rick (Suzanne), Suzanne (Don) Beaucage, and Cindy (Blake) MacMinn; and later by twelve grandchildren, Kristen, Samantha, Matthew, Mary Ann, Emilia, Lena, Angela, Liliana, Kyle, Sabrina, Aidan and Julia and one great-grandson, Raymond. He is survived by his siblings, Albano (Margarida), Emilia (the late Faustino) Costa and Olinda (Celio) Leitao and many cherished cousins and friends.
Come celebrate 82 great years Friday 10 to Noon at Daley Life Celebration Studio, 1518 Kings Highway Swedesboro where there will be a noon service. Interment Lake Park Cemetery, Woolwich. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) will be appreciated.