Louis Rocha "Louie" Menezes

LOUIS ROCHA MENEZES ''LOUIE'' AUG 1934 - APRIL 2011 Louis Rocha Menezes, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at the age of 76. Louie'' was the beloved husband of Joyce Helen (married for 46 years until her death in 2003) and Bernadette Xavier Menezes, whom he married in 2005. Louie and Bernadette were both widowed prior to their marriage and until Louie was diagnosed with cancer, had enjoyed traveling and the miracle of finding love and companionship in their later years. Louie was a hardworking and intelligent man, born on the Azores Island of Terceira. He came to the U.S. in 1949 when he was just 15 and settled with his family in Rhode Island. To help support his family, as he was one of the older children, he quit school shortly after arriving and began working in a rubber boot factory. After saving some money, he traveled to California where he obtained a job in Gustine as a milker. He met Joyce, married and they began an extraordinary campaign to save money so they could operate their own dairy. They succeeded in the late 1960's when they purchased land in the Westport area of Stanislaus County. Louie was able to continue living in this home after his retirement and received his wish of dying there. During the years, Louie and Joyce raised their five children and continued to work together as a family doing all of the dairy and farm work themselves. Louie always strove for self-improvement, was a keen observer of current events, obtained his real estate license, served on the board of the Westport Fire Department, was a founding member of the California Oxen Association and was also a member of Our Lady of Miracles Society in Gustine. Louie offered his time and patience to help others in the community, especially new immigrants both financially and emotionally; he always supported the Patterson Feast of the Holy Spirit Association, where he was a director, and never had an enemy. Faith and family were the most important things in this world to Louie and he is survived by five siblings Tina (Gene) Lowicki of NJ, Mary Semoes of MA, Ernest (Carol) Menezes of TX, Manuel (Judy) Menezes of RI, and Francis (Carolyn) Menezes of MA. Preceding him in death were his oldest brother Arthur Valadao and parents Luiz and Mary Menezes. Louie's five children were able to help Bernadette care for him in his final months: Jace (Tammy) Menezes of Modesto, Lane (Annette) Menezes of Turlock, Suzie (Ken) Doer of Kentucky, Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM, Fathers of Mercy of Kentucky, Bret (Nicole) Menezes of Modesto. Louis had thirteen grandchildren whom he loved completely and shared much of his humor, wisdom and Portuguese stories with. Vavou's grandchildren are Christopher (Jessie) Essman, Cameron Menezes, Jacey Menezes, Blake Menezes, Adam Menezes, Christian Menezes, Daniel Menezes, Taylor Menezes, Chloe Menezes, Kendall Doer, Jude Doer, Seth Doer and Natalie Menezes. His great grandchildren are Keary and Katie-Marie Essman. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Louis Menezes to help support vocations to the priesthood at The Fathers of Mercy, 806 Shaker Museum Road, Auburn, KY 42206-9768 or Westport Firefighters Association Memorial Fund, 5160 S. Carpenter Rd. Modesto, CA 95358. Friends, family and neighbors are invited to a rosary at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial to follow at Hills Ferry Cemetery District in Newman, CA. Please share your memories at www.modbee.com/obituaries www.allenmortuary.com ALLEN MORTUARY