Manuel M. Canito, 93, of Fall River, husband of the late Diamantina (Benevides) Canito, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at St. Anne's Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Arrifes, St. Michael, Azores, he was a son of the late Duarte Medeiros Canito and the late Emilia Raposo.

Prior to retiring, he worked as a jeweler for International Jewelers and as a welder at Harvey Probber for many years. In Portugal he conducted the Lira de Nossa Senhora da Saude marching band in Arrifes. He was one of the founders of Our Lady of Light Band in Fall River and the conductor from 1969 thru 2016.  He composed over one hundred marches and musical arrangements throughout his lifetime. He received many awards and honors for his musical talent and for his contribution to the Portuguese culture and community: In 1990 he was honored by the President of the Republic of Portugal, 1999 received an honor from Amigos dos Arrifes, 2005 was honored by the Massachusetts State House, 2019 he received an award from Junta de Freguesia Arrifes, just to name a few. He was a very outgoing, friendly and social person. Manuel was also a family man who loved his wife, children, and grandchildren dearly.

He leaves: his loving children, Robert Canito and his wife, Alice, Berta Canito-Goff and her husband, Neal, and Steven Canito, all of Fall River; his two grandchildren, Camron Goff and Paige Goff; his brother, Duarte Medeiros and his wife, Alda, of Ontario, Canada; and many nieces and nephews.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, January 11th, in Santo Christo Church followed by his private 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!