Manuel "Manny" Tavares

Manuel Joaquim “Manny” Tavares, age 49, passed away on Monday, March 21, 2022 at his residence surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the loving husband of Nelson M. Rosonina and devoted dog dad to Randy, Bentley and his beloved late Ruddy and Rusty.

Born in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal, he was the son of Maria de Jesus (Pimentel) Tavares and the late Francisco Tavares.

Manny was a flight attendant for United Airlines for nearly 24 years and loved his time in the sky. He was an avid traveler who had a discerning taste for European luxury cars, port wine and exotic orchids. He enjoyed nature, his koi fish pond, gardening and was a staunch advocate for the protection of the environment and all of what Mother Nature provided. But what he enjoyed most was spending time with his soulmate Nelson with whom he shared 23 years of companionship.

Manny was a talented person who could do anything especially when it came to remodeling and do it yourself projects around his home. He loved to make people smile and had a playful personality. He was a compassionate, accepting and non-judgmental beautiful soul.

In addition to his husband, Nelson and his mother, Maria he is survived by seven siblings, Mario Tavares and his wife Lucy of New Bedford, Francisco Tavares of New Bedford, Eduardo Tavares and his wife Odalia of New Bedford, Margarida Simoes and her husband Victor of South Dartmouth, Odesia Vassalo and her husband John of Fairhaven, Joe Tavares and his partner Paul Alexandre Santos of Acushnet, Agostinho “Gus” Tavares and his partner Paul Vieira of Berkley and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Manny’s life will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M. in the DARTMOUTH FUNERAL HOME, 230 Russells Mills Rd., South Dartmouth, MA 02748 followed by a 6:00 P.M. Funeral Mass at St. Lawrence Martyr Church, 565 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Contributions in Manny’s honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 www.St.jude.org or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: P.O.Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 www.dana-farber.org. To leave a note of condolence: www.waring-sullivan.com

Please join the live streaming of the Funeral Mass: https://whalingcitycatholics.org/st-lawrence-martyr-church/