Manchester Obituary: David Braga, 66

David Freitas Braga, 66, of Manchester, loving husband of over 43 years of Margarida (Barros) Braga, peacefully entered into eternal rest to join his family members in Heaven on Thursday, September 1, 2016 with his caring family near him at his home after a brief illness.

Born in Santa Maria, province of Azores, Portugal on December 31, 1949, a son of the late Antonio and Maria (deConceicao) Braga, he had resided in East Hartford for many years prior to moving to Manchester in 1999. Proud of his Portuguese heritage, David was a veteran of the Portuguese Army, an active member of the Holy Ghost Portuguese Society in East Hartford, and a long-time communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Hartford. Prior to his retirement, he was employed for 36 years by Har-Conn in West Hartford.

David was an avid gardener and an expert on grape vines. Most of all, David will be remembered for always making family and friends laugh and being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who loved spending most of his free time with his cherished grandchildren.

Along with his beloved wife, David is survived by a son, Michael F. Braga and his wife Carolina of Ellington; a daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Chaves of Vernon; five adored grandchildren, Taylor Chaves, Noah, Gabriella, Adrianna, and Gianmarco Braga. He also leaves three brothers, Josemaria Braga and his wife Lurdes of Portugal, Alberto Braga and his wife Jorgina of East Hartford, Fernando Braga and his wife Teresa of Windsor; three sisters, Filomena Chaves of East Hartford, Deolinda Carvalho and her husband Mario of Newington, Isaltina Resendes and her husband Antonio of Taunton, MA; three godchildren, Joe Chaves of East Hartford, Kimberly Carvalho of Queens, NY, Richard Cabral of Bolton; many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, former co-workers, and dear friends. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Antonio Braga of Portugal, Jordan Braga of Hartford, and a brother-in-law, Jose Chaves of East Hartford.

Funeral service will be Tuesday (September 6, 2016) at 9:45 am from the D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 am at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 40 Fatima Square, Hartford. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum, Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Monday (September 5, 2016) from 4-7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in David’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 or to the American Lung Association, 45 Ash Street, East Hartford, CT 06108.

David’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the entire staffs of nurses and doctors at Smilow Cancer Center @ St. Francis Hospital and St. Francis Hospital Wings 7-7 and MICU for their professionalism, care, love, and compassion given to David and his entire family.

For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.