John Soares Souza

Born December 21st, 1925 to Joao and Dioniza Souza who immigrated from St. Michael’s, Azores, Portugal, John Soares Souza was a devoted and loving son to his parents and brother to his sister who are all predeceased and was a loving husband, father, dad, pops, step-father, grandpa, gpa and great-grandpa, uncle and friend to many.

John grew up in Fall River and graduated college in Massachusetts, served 7 years in the Navy as a radioman, married Lorraine Benoit and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he would spend the rest of his life.

He loved sports! As a young man, he was an avid handball player and softball player but his first love was soccer which he played and later coached for many years. John came to Albuquerque to work for Sandia Corporation and work there he did for over 50 years. One of his main loves of working there was his opportunity to travel to the UK where he made many lifelong friends. Besides loving his family, soccer and watching channels 58 and 121, he adored his children, stepchildren, grand and great grandchildren and was supportive and appreciative of each of them. John was Portuguese through and through and loved chourice and linguicia - he also loved anything lemon - lemon filled donuts, lemon cream pie and though NOT lemon, coffee ice cream.

John loved and cared dearly and is survived by his wife, Constance, her children, Cathy and her husband George and their son, Gabriel; Robin and her son Blake; John’s children (with Lorraine predeceased): Karen and her sons, Tyler and Trevor, John and his wife, Lily (who is predeceased) and their son Jason and daughter Caroline, and Steve and his wife, Terry and their daughters Dawn and Tasha, and lots of beautiful great-grandchildren who he got so much joy from; niece Judy and her sons, Robert and Steven, and nephew Michael. John was preceded in death by his sister Hilda, and by two sons, John Anderson and Michael Souza whom he has loved and missed.

He loved a lot and enjoyed a very full life. On Saturday, April 23, 2022, he passed away peacefully at home at the age of 96 with his family around him. He was so loved and is already so missed.