Obituary: Edward A. "Eddie the Barber" Ferreira, 84

Edward A. “Eddie the Barber” Ferreira, 84, of Florida, formerly of West Warwick, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 in Clermont, Fl. He was the husband of the late Mary (Motta) Ferreira and companion of the late Amelia Cournoyer.

Born in West Warwick, he was a son of the late Manuel and Georgina (Simas) Ferreira and step-son of the late Hilda Ferreira. He was a resident of West Warwick for 74 years before taking residence in Florida.

Eddie was a self-employed barber for over 58 years and worked in West Warwick, Coventry, North Kingstown and most recently in The Villages, Florida before retiring. He was a US Army veteran and served in Osaka, Japan in the 291st Army Band and later served as a Cpl. in the US Army National Guard, during which time he was a member of the R.I. 88th Army Band.

Eddie truly enjoyed music and played saxophone, clarinet and keyboard in many local bands throughout New England including The Moonlighters Orchestra, The Dixie All-Stars, and The Johnny Gillo Quartet. Duckpin bowling was another of his passions. At one time, he was ranked as the #1 Duckpin Bowler in Rhode Island and also traveled to many states competing in bowling tournaments. He was an avid Red Sox and Celtics fan.

He was the father of Beverly A. Hopkins and her husband Brian, Edward J. Ferreira (Retired Lieutenant, West Warwick Police) and his wife Danielle of Clermont, FL and James E. Ferreira of Clermont, FL. He was the grandfather of Andrew Hopkins and his wife Meaghan, Briana and Kelsey Hopkins, and great-grandfather of Riley Hopkins. He was the brother of Manuel Ferreira and his wife Elizabeth of Coventry; two sisters, Helen Phillips and her late husband Manuel of Rehoboth, MA and Theresa Russell and her husband Roy of Coventry and Lakeland, FL. He was brother-in-law to Anna (Motta) Bettencourt and her late husband Edward and Jesse and Agnes Motta. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.

His Funeral will be held Saturday at 9:00am from the IANNOTTI Funeral Home, 415 Washington St. (Rte.117), Coventry, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Anthony Church, West Warwick. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, West Warwick. Visiting hours Friday 5-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or Mike Conley Hospice House of 2100 Oakley Seaver Dr., Clermont, Fl 34711 would be appreciated.