Jose M. DaPonte, 83, of Fall River, husband of Maria (Raposo) Daponte, passed away peacefully on Thursday at Charlton Memorial Hospital. Born in Rabo de Peixe, St. Michael, Azores, he was a son of the late Augusto and Maria Jose (Meireles) DaPonte. He worked as a mason for many years prior to his retirement. Jose had a passion for gardening, tending to his grapevines for hours. He also loved walking and Sunday dinners with his family. But most important to him was his family, for when he saw his grandchildren, his eyes would instantly light up. His family will always remember and cherish how he would tell them, "I love you, 3..4..5". Besides his wife of fifty-nine years, he leaves: his children, Joseph Ponte and his wife Margarida of Fall River, Maria F. Fontes and her husband Eugenio, and Nelia Moniz and her husband Edmund, of North Dartmouth; seven grandchildren, Naomi Tavares, Bianca Fontes, Megan Fontes, Nicole Ponte, Mathaya Sanchez, Torreya Moniz, and Rihanna Ponte; three great-grandchildren, Owen Fontes, Autumn Aguiar, and Isabel Tavares; and many loving nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Jose was also the brother of the late Herculana Couto, Rosa Leandro and Gilda Correia. His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, May 7th, in Espirito Santo Church followed by his committal at Notre Dame Cemetery.