Danbury resident Toni DeSousa passes away from injuries sustained in car accident

It is with great sadness that the family of Antonio Ferreira DeSousa (“Toni”) announces that he passed away at the age of 68 on Monday, July 4, 2022, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash.

Antonio was born in Vila Pouca De Aguiar-Vila Mea, Portugal. He was the son of the late Antonio Joaquim DeSousa and Matilde Maria Rioboa Ferreira. Though he only lived in the mountains of Northern Portugal for a short time before moving to Lisbon, he would always call Vila Mea home. Antonio’s pride for his beloved childhood home and the village was always conveyed with great affection in his storytelling. At a young age, Antonio began working in the service-hospitality industry and quickly found his knack for serving others, acquiring a reputation for his boyish grin and contagious laugh. At age eighteen he served in the Portuguese Army as a paratrooper.

Antonio met and married Maria Do Ceu Martins Correia while living in Lisbon, and they started a family. Following Ceu’s death, Antonio immigrated to Danbury, CT, which would become his permanent home. Antonio’s passion and aptitude for serving others won the hearts of countless customers - from Tonelli’s in Bethel to Jim Barbarie’s in Danbury - and he became notorious for his friendly, caring, and attentive nature. He always had a way of making his customers feel as though they were his family.

Antonio was also loved by the residents of John Paul II and Bethel Healthcare, where he worked in facilities maintenance.

Recently, he also struck out on his own and began his own painting business. Antonio was always on the go, always on his feet, and could always be found with a smile on his face. Antonio’s true loves, however, were his cherished children: Rui, Sergio, Elizabeth, and Nicholas; his grandson, Xavier; his daughters-in-law Anne and Elise; and his companion, Irene Paravalos.

Antonio also treasured his friendships with Helen Fernandes, Linda Wixted, Bahjat Rizk, Manny Fernandes Jr., the late Tony and Manuel Fernandes, and countless others. Known by many as “Pai”, Antonio opened his home and his heart to the friends of Rui and Sergio could often be found seated at the table of family dinners.

We will miss the stories he shared and the chipper tunes he whistled while he cooked. We will miss the reliably full wine glasses and the staggering quantities of food that he would set before us on a table that could never be too full. Antonio was a lifelong fan of FC Porto, movies, gardening, skiing, and running. He also enjoyed motorcycle rides on nice days. He loved traveling and working on cruise ships allowed him to see different parts of the world. He was an avid card player and shouted,“Ricolla!” every time he had the winning hand. Antonio cared more for people than he did for things, and he enjoyed giving more than he did receive - thus rendering the task of Christmas shopping a nearly insurmountable feat.

He was a simple man. He would say that all he needed was the air in his lungs and his family around him, and he would mean it. Antonio was not afraid to live his life, and he did so with gusto. He had an untameable stubborn streak, and his family will sorely miss fussing over him. In addition to his immediate family, Antonio is survived by: his loving sisters, Hortencia and Idalinda; his beloved brother-in-law and lifelong friend, Acacio; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; as well as countless friends. As we grieve this unexpected and profound loss, we find comfort in the knowledge that, “A life with love is a life that’s been lived”, and Antonio showed us each day how to lead and serve each other with love.

Calling hours for family and friends will be held at Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home at 9 Granville Avenue in Danbury, CT on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St.Joseph’s Church in Danbury.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Antonio Ferreira DeSousa, please visit our floral store.