Jose Moniz Pereira, also known as 'Jose da Terra', age 97, of Fall River, passed away Saturday, February 20, 2016. He was the husband of his beloved wife, Maria de Lourdes C. Pereira, for 67 years. Born in Capelas, Sao Miguel Azores, he was the son of the late Manuel and Maria Isabel Pereira and brother of the late Antonio Pereira, Mariano Pereira, and Maria dos Anjos Paiva.

After residing in the Azores for fifty years, he immigrated to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1968 and was naturalized as a citizen of the United States in 1998. He was employed as a silver plater for many years at the former Rogers Silver Company in Taunton, MA, and was a communicant of Espirito Santo Church on Alden Street in Fall River. He enjoyed gardening, basket weaving, broom making, playing cards, and spending time with his wife and family.

He was the devoted father of Maria L. Viveiros and her husband Jose of Fall River, Jose M. Moniz and his wife Maria of Fall River, Abel Moniz and his wife Fatima of Westport, and the late Nicolau C. Pereira. He was also the loving grandfather of Rita De Oliveira, Leslie Roberge, Sandra Rosa, Elizabeth Gariepy, Steven Moniz, Leonard Moniz, Nancy Moniz, and Stacy Camara, and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, February 24th, in Espirito Santo Church folllowed by his committal at Notre Dame Cemetery on Stafford Road in Fall River.