John A. Ferreira

John Domingo Anthony Ferreira, 91, a Korean War Veteran and longtime resident of The Gardens of Wilbraham Community, passed away with a peaceful goodbye on Wednesday morning March 1, in the presence of his beloved wife, Annette, of 66 years. John was born on September 13, 1931 in Boston, the youngest of eight children, to Antonio and Candida (Fernandes). He leaves behind an irrefutable legacy in his eight children; John, Ken, Kathy, Steve, Pam, Christine, Pauline, Robert, and sixteen marvelous grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Born to Portuguese immigrants, he spent his childhood and teenage years attending local East Boston schools while working as a shoe shiner among the streets of Boston to bring financial earnings to his family.

John patriotically answered his country's call to action in 1951, enlisting into the United States Navy. He served four years during wartime as a radioman third class aboard a Destroyer Escort, The USS J. Douglas Blackwood. Following his Naval service, he met his future wife, Annette Cresta at the Oceanview Dancehall in Revere. They married in October of 1956 and began raising a family in East Boston. John pulled double duty working night shifts at a zipper factory to support a growing family while also attending the Vesper George School of Art in Boston during the day.

By 1960 John had become a full-time professional commercial artist. He eventually moved to western Massachusetts to raise his family and ultimately took residence in East Longmeadow. It was here that John spent the first part of his professional career as the Art Director for The Milton Bradley Game Company. During the second half of his career, he owned and operated a commercial design studio before relocating to Sandwich on Cape Cod in 1992. Painting as a hobby was always an artistic passion for John and he started creating his private collection of work. John had professional affiliations with many Cape Cod art guilds and associations where he showed his artwork. Some of his awards include Best of Show. The outdoor influences of country landscapes and Cape Cod beachscapes can be seen as a driving force in his collections.

John loved to sing. During his Navy service time, he developed his talent as a vocalist and would often get paid to entertain while in port; a side gig that he would continue for decades to come. John will always be remembered for his powerful acapella renditions of, “Sunrise Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof. He would sing this to the bride and groom at each of his children and grandchildren’s weddings. His renditions would emanate a deep passionate tone and expression of love for the newlyweds, and it became a reception highlight of which all would look forward to.

As a husband and father, John was a loyal provider. He was deeply attached to his wife, Annette. They made a solid team and always operated as each other's complementary half. This allowed them to persevere through 66 years of marriage. As a father to eight children whose ages span fifteen years, John raised his children by modeling. He set examples by virtue of determination, courage, and modesty. He taught his children responsibility and resourcefulness. But most of all, he gave unconditional love. In his words, his children were, “The brush strokes in the painting of his life.”

John embodied the American Dream. A son of immigrants from humble beginnings, he believed and demonstrated time and again that anything is possible with hard work. He deeply believed in the virtue of family and was profoundly committed to his Catholic faith. John always believed that with God anything was possible. He loved the way the sun would shine on him while seated at his favorite breakfast nook chair. Above his chair, a personal favorite saying of his hangs, “Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.”

Visiting hours will be 4-6pm Thursday, March 9, at the Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd. Wilbraham, MA. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, March 10, at Noon at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, 42 Main St. Wilbraham, MA. A 2pm burial will follow at the Massachusetts Veteran Memorial Cemetery, Agawam. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.