Jose Vieira De Freitas, was born in Flores, an island of the Western Group of the Azores to Etelvina & Jose De Freitas on November 28th, 1932. He often spoke of the beauty of his homeland which has an area of 143km2 and a small population of approximately 3907 inhabitants. He dreamt and told stories to his grandchild of someday wanting to return back to Portugal where he kept some of his most cherished memories of growing up with his beloved grandmother who helped raise him.

It was there that he met and married his beloved wife Maria Jose Moniz back in 1957. After giving birth to their two beautiful daughters Maria Odette (Betty Da Ponte, born in 1959 in Terceira) & Maria Jose (Mary Sonmor, born 1958 in Terceira) he decided to uproot his family and immigrate to Canada in 1963 to provide a better life for his children. After becoming a Canadian citizen and teaching himself to read, write and speak fluently in English, he obtained a very respectable position operating small equipment/vehicles for one of the largest public transit agencies within North America, the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). It was there that he would later receive an honorary plaque for his 25+ years of service to the city of Toronto.

Jose Vieira De Freitas was an outstanding citizen to both Portugal and Canada. He honored his original country of Birth by participating in the Army as a young man, then in the country of his Death by being an active member of society in his services to the TTC for nearly 30 years.

Jose Vieira De Freitas is survived by his beloved wife Maria, his beautiful daughters Betty & Mary and their husbands Duarte & Chris, his grandchildren Jessica, James, Janine, Joey, Kenny & Kimberly and their spouses Kevin, Monica, Jacqueline & Vivian and his Great Granddaughters Alexis, Shae & Alana.

Pallbearers will be (James, Kevin, Duarte, Lee, Joey & Kenny)

“Make every moment a story worth telling to your grandchildren someday and make time for the things that really matter because time waits for no one and that’s what my grandfather taught me and now he’ll live forever, not in time but in my heart!

I will always love you Vovo!”

~ Jessie

"Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you, until we meet again!"