Jose "Joe" F. Ferreira, 71 of Fall River, husband of Helena (Cabral) Ferreira, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving wife and family, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Charlton Memorial Hospital following a long and courageous battle with colon cancer. He was born in Lomba do Carro, Povoacao, St. Michael, Azores and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1960. He was the oldest son of the late Fernando Borges Ferreira and the late Maria Catarina (Carreiro) Ferreira.

Mr. Ferreira attended Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMASS Dartmouth) and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and education with honors in 1975. He continued his studies at Boston University and attained a Master of Arts degree in Education in 1979. He was a teacher of Reading and English E.S.L. (English as a Second Language), servicing non-english speaking students in the Fall River School system for 34 years. Early in his teaching career, he participated in the Massachusetts Migrant Education Program at Camp Interlocken and BMC Durfee High School, educating migrant children. Mr. Ferreira taught at the Hartwell Street School and the Mathieu J. Kuss and James J. Talbot Middle Schools throughout his distinguished teaching career. He also served many years as a board member at Our Lady of Health Credit Union. He was an avid fisherman and gardener and enjoyed watching wrestling and listening to bluegrass and country music. He also loved traveling with his family throughout the United States. Annual vacations included road trips to National Parks, Disney, Washington DC, Florida, Tennessee and numerous other historic sites and landmarks. Mr. Ferreira was however, most passionate about spending time with his family; in particular, his newborn granddaughter, Lilly. Family traditions were extremely important to Mr. Ferreira, including Christmas Eve visits with extended family and wine making with his family and son. He was a son dedicated to his family who, along with his siblings, cared for both of his parents when they were no longer able.

Besides his loving wife of forty-three years, he leaves a son, Christopher J. Ferreira and his longtime companion, Laurie Botelho, of Fall River, and a daughter, Lisa M. Gormley and her husband, Michael, of Watertown; his granddaughter, Lilly Gormley; one sister, Verneranda Miozza and her husband, Richard, of Fall River; his brother, John Ferreira and his wife, Urania, of Tiverton; and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Susan Kim and the wonderful and caring staff at the Charlton Memorial Cancer Center. As well as Dr. Theodore S. Hong, Dr. Ryan D. Nipp, Dr. Bruce J. Giantonio, Dr. David Berger and the staff of the Mass General Hospital Cancer Center.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, August 8th, in St. Anthony of Padua Church followed by his committal at St. Patrick Cemetery.

Family members are always grateful for relatives and friends wishing to make in-person expressions of kindness and support. If you were unable to do so, because of this pandemic or any other reason, all are urged to express their sympathy online or by mail. To ensure that said condolences and/or sympathy cards reach the family, please always make sure that submissions online are made directly through the funeral home's website ( www.silvafaria.com ) and not through a third party. Thank you!