Obituary: Manuel P. Furtado, 75, Lived Life to the Fullest

Manuel P. Furtado, 75, formerly of Sprague Street, Portsmouth, passed away in his sleep on Saturday, April 26, 2014, in Middletown.

He was the son of the late Josephine (Roderick) Furtado and the late Manuel C. Furtado.

Manny was born with cerebral palsy which limited him physically but never limited his full enjoyment of life. His great sense of humor made him many lasting friends who were happy to take him to social and sporting events, concerts and overnight visits. As a young adult he joined the Portsmouth Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus and through the generosity and friendship of club members attended the many social events sponsored by these groups. Manny also attended many outings made possible by a bus purchased and refitted by the Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club and made available for Newport County handicapped children. He also travelled with his mother to Florida the Grand Old Opry in TN, the homes of President FDR and President Carter and to Washington, DC. At age 60 he moved into a group home managed by Life Inc. and began attending the Maher Workshops in Middletown. The caring staff at Life Inc. and his housemates became his second family and the staff provided him with excellent care and frequent transportation to local outings, sporting events, visits to his mother when she was in a nursing home and many holiday family dinners. Manny was looking forward to attending Camp Jabberwocky on Martha’s Vineyard again this summer as he had done for over fifty years.

He leaves two sisters, Irene Cosgrove of Portsmouth, and Helen Mathieu of Portsmouth and Newport. He is also survived by nieces Lisa St. Ours of Dartmouth, MA, Dr. Michele Mathieu of Narragansett, RI, Rachel Barber of South Kingstown and Julie Edinburgh of Newport and England and a nephew Mark Mathieu of Newport; also, great nieces, Jessica and Jennifer St. Ours, Hazel Mathieu, Emily Edinburgh and Jamie Barber, also grand nephews, Michael St. Ours, Jack Edinburgh and Ryan Barber. Manny also is survived by his housemates and long-time friends, Timothy, Brian and George. 

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2014, from 4-7 in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, RI.
His funeral will be held on Friday, May 2, 2014, at 9:30am from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.

Donations may be sent in his memory to Camp Jabberwocky, Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard, MA 02568.