Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Freire, John M. March 14, 2012
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Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 April 20, 2022, 2:59 am

Virginian-Pilot  March 16, 2012
Virginia Beach - John M. Freire departed this life on March 14, 2012, at home 
surrounded by loving family and friends. He was born January 19, 1935, in Norfolk, 
VA, of which he was very proud. He leaves to mourn his passing his loving and 
beloved wife, Sophia P. Freire (Susie), and three daughters: Debby Canady (Mack) 
and Cindy Dean (Frank) of Greensboro, NC, and Brenda Pavey (J.P.) of Westminister, 
MD, and a stepson Harry F. Letts of Cape Coral, FL. He is survived by five 
grandchildren: Natalie Sarns, Carrie Sizemore, Claire Pavey, Drew Pavey and Austin 
Pavey; three great grandchildren: Ella, Lincoln and Luke, a mother-in-law, Ann 
Stuehrenberg of Virginia Beach and numerous cousins, especially Robert Pena of 
Anderson, SC, a best buddy with whom he enjoyed many golf and hunting trips. He is 
also survived by two half-sisters, Rita Lupton and Susan Haas. John was 
predeceased by his parents Juan Puga Freire and Alba Gomez Jackson, and a sister 
Carmelita Story. John was born into a large family and spent much of his time on 
the family farm in Princess Anne County with his grandparents and his mother's 
five siblings. They were a very close knit family and after the aunts and uncles 
married they gathered regularly at the farm. The family was very proud of their 
Spanish heritage and a highlight of his life was a trip he and his wife made with 
his mother to Comillas, Spain, his grandparents' home town. As a child he heard 
many stories about their home and compared his childhood images with the beautiful 
country. He traveled to Sada, Spain, the birthplace of his father, but the best 
part of his trip was a week spent with family in Comillas. John spent his career 
in the grocery business, the last half at Navy Commissaries. He managed the Oceana 
Commissary and made many friends there with co-workers and customers. He was a 
true people person and had a great sense of humor that he maintained through the 
last weeks of his life. John considered his major accomplishment in life his three 
daughters whom he called the Three Bears and he was the Papa Bear. When they had 
children, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, taking his vacations 
with them at the Outer Banks. We will always cherish his memory and remember his 
love of us. The family will receive friends at H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin 
Road Chapel, tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted 
at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 17, at Star of the Sea Catholic Church. The burial will 
follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Norfolk. Online condolences may be made 
to the family at hdoliver.com.

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