Obituary : John D. Ferriera Jr.
Published: June 5, 2008
John D. Ferriera Jr. of County Road in Oak Bluffs died at the Royal Nursing Center in Falmouth after a brief illness on Saturday, May 24, one day shy of his 85th birthday.
John was the devoted husband of Rita (Brilhante) Ferriera. He was a lifelong Island resident born in Oak Bluffs on May 25, 1923, the son of John Sr. and Mary (Silva) Ferriera. His parents and sisters, Margaret Valenti, Rose Leite, Hilda Marshall, and Harriet Ferriera all predeceased him.
John left the Island to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II and received the Purple Heart Medal for injuries sustained in battle.
Prior to his leaving to serve his country, John worked with his father as a gardener and landscaper and then with the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression Era under a plan by the U.S. Congress as a relief program by planting trees in the place to be known as the Manuel Corellus State Forest. Upon returning from the war, he was a forest ranger on the West Coast for a period of time before returning to Martha's Vineyard.
John was a carpenter and worked for Ted Henley, Wilfred Lawrence and others before working for himself. He would later be known as the screen repairman on the Island.
Mr. Ferriera was a member and past commander of the American Legion. He was a people person and quite the conversationalist.
He is survived by his wife and many nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family.
His memorial mass will be celebrated in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, located on Massasoit Avenue in Oak Bluffs on Saturday, June 21, at 11 am. Burial of his cremains will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, located on Vineyard Avenue in Oak Bluffs, with military honors provided by the Veterans of Martha's Vineyard
Donations may be made in John's memory to the Alzheimer's Services of Cape Cod & the Islands, Inc., 712 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601.
Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.
