Aldonio Policarpo Teixeira passed away Sunday, March 19th in Lowell, Massachusetts with his daughter, Sarah by his side. Son of Antonio and Georgina (Ornellas), born in Funchal on the island of Madeira, where he lived with his six siblings until joining the merchant marines in the 1950s, beginning his journey across the world.
In 1959 he moved to Brazil, where he met the love of his life, Marcelina. They had two children, Sarah and Al, and in 1968 Aldonio left Brazil to settle in Taunton, Massachusetts, arranging a home for his wife and children who joined him in 1970. He was proud to become a US Citizen years later and voted in every election.
Aldonio was an incredibly hard worker, often holding multiple jobs. From working in oil refineries in Venezuela, to retiring from Houghton Mifflin, to selling found goods at the Salem Flea Market in retirement, he taught us all the value of a day’s work.
Aldonio was a man of deep faith. He founded the East Providence Portuguese Church now located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. After moving to Lowell in the 1980s he became an active member of the Portuguese Seventh Day Adventist Church, serving as head elder for many years. His faith was a source of deep comfort and could always be found studying his Bible in the mornings and evenings.
He was a force of nature at 5 feet tall. He adored fútbol and while he rooted for Portugal and Brazil his heart was always with his home club of Porto. He loved to play solitaire, was excellent at dominos, and had a collection of hats for any occasion. He often visited his friends at Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds, to enjoy a cup of coffee.
A proud Vôvo his two granddaughters, Ashley and Laura, with whom he spent every day in his retirement and were the greatest joys of his life. The day that they graduated from college, he looked like he was floating on air. Until his dying day he told them “everything I do is for you girls.” He was thrilled to have met his great granddaughter Maya in 2022.
Aldonio is survived by his daughter Sarah Moynihan and her husband Bob of Lowell, MA, his son Al Teixeira, and his wife LaToya of Tampa, FL, his granddaughter Ashley Coppinger, her husband John and their daughter Maya of Lowell, MA, his granddaughter Laura Moynihan and her fiance Zac Minor of San Francisco, CA, his sister Lydia Garanito of Taunton, MA, and many nieces and nephews.
In the late years of her life his beloved wife Marcelina suffered from Alzheimer’s and was given a great deal of support from Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any charitable donations be sent there.
A bilingual (Portuguese and English) memorial service will be held at the Portuguese Seventh Day Adventist Church, 211 Charles Street, Lowell, MA on Saturday March 25th at 3:30pm, followed by light refreshments.
