U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II
Published November 20, 2019
LYNNFIELD — Francis A. Sousa, 95, a longtime resident of Lynnfield, died on Veterans’ Day, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, at his residence.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 22, 1923, he was the son of the late Francis M. and Lillian (Faucon) Sousa.
Mr. Sousa was raised in Wakefield and was a graduate of Wakefield High School, Class of 1942. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, proudly serving his country during World War II, and beginning a military career that would span 42 years until his retirement at the age of 60. When Mr. Sousa returned from the war, he married his high school sweetheart, the late Marie (Martin), and the two began their family in 1948 in Wakefield. Soon after, in 1950, they settled in Lynnfield, where they raised their family of five children in the family home on Edward Avenue; a home he built himself.
Mr. Sousa had many hobbies and interests. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved fly fishing and hunting. He loved model railroading and stamp collecting, but his greatest joy was his gardening. He was a member of the American Iris Society and the Iris Society of Massachusetts; his home garden often being a stop of Iris tours. Mr. Sousa was a past officer of the Lynnfield Historical Society and loved reading and history. Above all, he loved his family and most especially cherished time spent with his grandchildren.
He was the beloved husband of the late Marie (Martin) Sousa. He was the loving father of Mary-Lynda Daley and her husband Charles of Cohasset; Andrea Abbruzzese and her husband David of Kingston; Jay Sousa of Burlington, Vermont; Jayne Reed and her husband Allan of Warwick, Rhode Island; and the late Martin Sousa. He was the brother of Joseph, Albert, Phillip, and William Sousa, and the late Edna Reed. He was the cherished “Umpa” of Bronwen Santacroce and her husband James; C. Grant Daley and his wife Allison; Erin Abbruzzese; Burke Reed and his fiancée Haley Osbourne; and Allyn Reed. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Caroline, William and Reese Santacroce; and Grace, Charlie and Thomas Daley. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Monday, Nov. 18, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Maria Goretti Church, 112 Chestnut St., Lynnfield. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Sunday. Interment took place in St. Patrick Cemetery in Stoneham.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Iris Society of Massachusetts, 42 Monument St., Medford, MA 02155-6716 or to the charity of one’s choice.
