Hector Barrigas

Heaven gained an angel on June 11, 2023.  Hector Barrigas was often called a saint by those that knew him.

He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother in law, uncle, cousin, friend.......

He, selflessly, took care of his wife, Angela, for several years putting his own health and well-being second.  That’s just who he was.

He loved his family with his whole being.  He also loved making wine, hunting, soccer and was most happy when he had his home filled with family and friends so he could continuously feed them and share his prize-winning wine.

Most importantly, he loved our Lord.  He went to mass weekly all his life until he could no longer physically do so.

His 92 years on earth were a gift to us and were filled with many joyous moments and accomplishments.  He was born in Souto Velho, Portugal on April 8, 1931. His mother, Maria Fernandes Barrigas, was born in Quintas Portugal and his father, Francisco Barrigas, born in Souto Velho, Portugal (9/20/1886).

He was very close to his parents.  His mother worked in a butcher shop and actually trained a young man who went on to become the “best butcher in town”.  His father was a land owner and managed farms; he was known to be extremely intelligent and studied and read hours each day.  He invented his own calendar using the Julian ang Gregorian systems. He owned 35 “pipas”; each pipa held 548 liters of wine. 

When Hector was a boy, he loved playing soccer and told us once that “nobody could beat me when it came to art and math” in school. 😊 He proudly served in the Portuguese Navy from January 1952 to February 1954 and loved sharing stories about that with his grandchildren.

He had 4 brothers, the oldest, Armando (wife -Maria da Conceicao Gomes), Manuel, Alpoim, (all deceased) and Francisco (wife Zelinda Mendes – deceased) who has been not only a brother but a companion and friend throughout the years visiting him multiple times per week. Hector was the middle child.

Not only did he raise two amazing sons, Frank and Gus, he worked tirelessly as a laborer, usually in masonry, to provide for his family and was a member of the Laborers Local Union 385 of Fairhaven, MA and probably the longest serving member of the Portuguese Recordacoes club in New Bedford, MA.

He will be missed more than words can explain by his sons, daughters in law (Trish and Judy), grandchildren (Ashley, Josh, Ciara and Courtney), great grandchildren (Mila and Evander) his brother, Francisco, his Ferreira brother in laws, who were like brothers to him, and his sister in laws: Henrique & Domingas, Acacio & Dorothy, Tony & Anna, Arthur & Judy, Alfredo & Linda (deceased) and John & Mary along with his nephews, nieces and the rest of his extended family and all his friends.

We lost one of the most amazing human beings on this planet, but he is at peace looking down upon us from the Kingdom of Heaven.

Hector's visitation will be held Monday, June 19th from 5-7pm at the Boulevard Funeral Home, 223 Ashley Blvd. His funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, June 20th at 10am at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church. All are welcome join us at the Funeral Home before the Funeral Mass at 9am. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Hector's name to a charity of your choice.