Manuel Moutela

“Loving husband, father, and avô”

Naugatuck, CT - Manuel Augusto Tavares Moutela, 80, husband of Maria Alice Moutela, passed peacefully on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family leaving a void in the hearts of those who knew him.

Manuel was born February 21, 1943 in Salreu, Portugal a son of the late Manuel Maria Tavares da Silva Moutela and Maria Rosa Marques Tavares Moutela. Manuel was raised in Portugal, attended local schools and immigrated to Naugatuck in 1975. He was hard working and worked as a construction laborer for the Connecticut Laborers Union, retiring in 2009.

He was a member of Clube Uniao Portuguesa in Naugatuck and he was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Waterbury. He loved working endless hours in his garden and enjoyed sharing the rewards of his labor with family and neighbors. He could be seen on his daily walks around town or tinkering on projects outside.

Family was always Manuel’s pride and greatest joy. Manuel was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He and Maria married and spent 37 wonderful years together raising their son and two daughters. Their family continued to grow and he became an avô to 6 grandchildren, his “amiguinhos”, whom he loved and adored beyond words. His face would light up whenever they were around.

Manuel was a man of few words but was always willing to help others, without being asked and never expecting anything in return. Manuel had incredible patience, never complained and strived to provide harmony. He had very strong values and was well liked by everyone who met him. His legacy will forever carry on in his children and grandchildren reminding us to live a life of love, patience, generosity, service to others, and faith in God.

In addition to his wife Maria, Manuel is survived by his daughter and son in law, Marlene and Robert Pun of Watertown; his son and daughter in law, Andre and Christina Moutela of Southbury; his daughter and son in law, Gorete and Davidson Braga of Seymour; his grandchildren Carter, Julian, Grayson, Selena, Eleni, and Gabriel, his siblings, Maria Rosa Rebimbas of Naugatuck, Maria de Lourdes Moutela Couras of Oxford, his brother in-laws Francisco Rebimbas and Manuel Couras, and many loving nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Maria Augusta Tavares Moutela Couras of Venezuela.

Manuel’s family would like to give special thanks to the ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter and the Department of Neuromuscular Medicine at the Hospital for Special Care for all their care and support.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10:00am at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2071 Baldwin Street, Waterbury. Everyone attending is kindly asked to please meet directly at church. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Calling hours are Monday from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Manuel’s memory, donations are requested to Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2071 Baldwin Street, Waterbury, CT 06706 or to Clube Uniao Portuguesa, 110 Rubber Avenue, Naugatuck, CT 06770.