Jose Reis

Naugatuck, CT Jose Barbosa Reis, 78, husband of Amalia Reis, died peacefully on January 22, 2023 in the VITAS Hospice Care Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Jose was born December 26, 1944 in Aveiro, Portugal a son of the late Jose Valente dos Reis and Isilda Barbosa dos Reis. Jose attended Santo Amaro School and Naugatuck High School. Jose worked as a construction foreman for DeFelice Construction Company, retiring in 2007 after working there for 30 years.

Throughout the 1980’s, Jose was a soccer referee; he was a member of Clube Uniao Portuguesa, where he served as treasurer, and in 1978, served as club president. Jose was also a member of the Portuguese Sport Club in Waterbury.

In addition to Amalia, his wife of 53 years, Jose is survived by his sons, Paul Reis of Naugatuck and Bruno Reis of New Haven; his brothers, Alexandre Reis of Veiros, Portugal, Domingos Reis of Santo Amaro, Portugal and Fernando Reis of Port St. Lucie, FL; his sisters, Celeste Pinho of Louriero, Portugal, Emilia Oliveira of Naugatuck and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday 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 Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Jose’s memory, donations are requested to the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter, 200 Executive Blvd South, #4b, Southington, CT 06489.