Amaro Rocha Nunes, age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, California, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. He was born in Santa Barbara, Terceira, Açores, to Gertrude and Luis Amaro Nunes.
Amaro was a hardworking man who devoted his life to his family. At the age of 17, he left Santa Barbara, Terceira, and moved to Brazil, where he spent 22 years building a life. It was there he met his wife, Margarida, and together they started their family. The couple eventually made the decision to move their young family to the United States, where they began a new chapter in their lives.
A devout Catholic, Amaro prayed the rosary daily and maintained a strong connection to his roots, often reading and watching the news from Terceira and Brazil on the Internet. He had a love for gardening, enjoyed word searches, had a quiet, dry sense of humor and quick wit. Amaro was also a competitive card player and had a keen mind for math, always quick with calculations and figures. His kind heart and love for his family will live on through the generations he leaves behind.
Amaro is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margarida G. Nunes of Turlock, California; his children, Luie Nunes (Ana) of Tracy, California, Silvio Nunes (Angela) of Lakewood, Colorado, Maria Lucia Nunes (John Harritt) of Sacramento, California, and Margaret Hering (Garrett) of Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by his siblings: João Nunes of Turlock, California; Albertina Rebelo of Santa Barbara, Terceira, Açores; Maria Nilda Dias of Cinco Ribeiras, Terceira, Açores; and Carmel Veríssimo of Santa Barbara, Terceira, Açores.
Amaro leaves behind his beloved grandchildren: Andrew Nunes (Yi Lin), Daniel Nunes (Lorraine), Christina Knuckles (Tanner), and William Nunes, as well as his great-grandchildren: Nancy Nunes and James Knuckles, who will honor his memory.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Luis and Gertrude Nunes; and his siblings, Maria Borba, Louis R. Nunes, Jose Nunes, and Manuel Elmiro Nunes.
Amaro was a parishioner of Our Lady of Miracles Catholic Church in Gustine, California, and Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Turlock, California.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service, 286 West Main Street, Turlock, CA 95380.
The Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 7:00 PM at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 S. Walnut Road, Turlock, CA 95380.
The committal service will follow at North Hilmar Cemetery, 8710 Tegner Road, Hilmar, CA 95324.
