AMERICO SIMOES

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AMERICO SIMOES
June 26, 1927 - September 13, 2019

As a fitting tribute to an extraordinary man, the family of Americo Simoes wishes to celebrate a life well lived.
Isaura, his beloved wife of 66 years, is left to cherish his memory with their daughters, Luisa (Bill), Milu (Jose), and Lurdes (Manuel); their grandchildren, Annette, Marla, Carla (Matt), Garrett, and Andrew; their great-grandson Benjamin; their sisters-in-law Maria da Luz and Fernanda; and their many nieces and nephews in Canada and in Portugal.
Americo is predeceased by his parents Maria da Conceicao Simoes and Jose Simoes; his brothers Roque, Ricardo and Luis; and his sisters Ceu and Lurdes.
Born in Granja, Amendoa, Portugal on June 26, 1927, Americo simultaneously took up three of his favourite pastimes at an early age. As he often told his grandchildren: "When I started to walk I started to work, and I started to drink wine." Coming from a long line of carpenters, he first learned the trade from his father until moving to the capital city of Lisbon when he was just 13 to attend technical school. He often returned to the small village where he was born, a trip that took no less than four hours in each direction by bicycle.
On one of his many visits home he began courting the daughter of one of his father's good friends, and on January 31, 1952 they were married. Together they moved to Lisbon and had three daughters. The political situation in Portugal left Americo wanting more for his family, and in April of 1964 they immigrated to Canada.
After settling his family in Winnipeg, Americo found work in northern Canada where he could earn a better living. Those early months apart were difficult for him and his young family, but they knew it was for a purpose. The following year he purchased their first home on Burrows Avenue in the North End of Winnipeg, where together they shared many good times and fond memories.
An experienced and skilled carpenter who possessed an innate entrepreneurial spirit, Americo eventually started a construction company called A. Simoes Construction. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he built many of the communities across Manitoba, and became an important pillar of the growing Portuguese community in Winnipeg. Towards the end of his working life, Americo moved to Dallas, TX, where he oversaw the completion of several large projects.
Americo was an outdoorsman who loved nature and animals, but more than anything else he loved spending time with his family. He was happiest sitting at the head of the dinner table telling us stories about the simple days of his humble upbringing, passing on the wisdom of those that came before him, teaching us the lessons he learned from his own life experiences, and making all of us laugh. A practical man in the fullest sense of the word, he never dwelled on the negative aspects of life and his stories often ended with his favourite adage: "Assim é a vida," or "that's the way life is."
Americo spent the final years of his remarkable life in Portugal in the loving care of his wife. He was often visited at his home in Cascais by friends, nieces and nephews, his children and grandchildren, and twice by the one he affectionately called "o catraio" - the great-grandson he had so long and patiently awaited. Americo always loved being surrounded by all who visited, but the two visits from his great-grandson lifted his spirits more than anything else in the final months.
Americo leaves behind a void that is impossible to fill, but he lives on in the memories we have of the great man we were fortunate to call amor, paizinho, avo, great-grandpa, tio, and friend. We will always remember his generosity, quick wit and sense of humour, strong work ethic, good nature, and noble character.
Family and friends are invited to join us on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. for the Celebration of Life Service being held for Americo at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue. A short reception will follow.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 23, 2019