Antonio Chaves Sousa

Antonio Chaves Sousa, a resident of Hudson, MA for over 70 years, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, January 8, 2022, 2 days shy of his 87th  Birthday. He is reunited in heaven with his beloved wife of 37 years, Ivone Isabel (Silva Azevedo) Sousa, who predeceased him on May 7, 1997.

Antonio was born in Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal, on January 10, 1935, a son of the late Antonio Da Emilia Sousa and Maria Da Conceicao (Chaves) Sousa. He was raised in Santa Maria where he completed school and shortly after immigrated to Hudson in August of 1951 along with his brother. With a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, Antonio was a true American Dream success story. He opened his first business, Piques Travel Agency, located on Manning St. in Hudson in the mid 60’s and later renamed it to Mundial Travel Agency Inc, in 1971, which was relocated to 178 Main Street in Hudson, where it is still currently family owned and operated. Antonio was the first person to charter direct flights to Santa Maria from North America, which were offered from the 1980’s through the summer of 2002. In addition to a successful travel agency, Antonio also founded the first Portuguese restaurant on Main Street in Hudson. The Restaurant Atlantic was located next door to the travel agency at 176 Main Street, eventually Antonio took on a business partner, who he later sold the restaurant to. Antonio received many awards and commendations for his hardwork and dedication in the community. One of his proudest accomplishments was his work with NASA in Santa Maria, where he arranged accommodations, travel and acted as a liaison for the Scientists from 1991 -1992 during their work on the ASTEX field experiment.

Antonio loved his Azorean Portuguese roots and on top of his successful businesses, he was also deeply invested in the Portuguese Community. Antonio co-founded the first Portuguese speaking radio programs in the Metrowest in 1973, Portugal 73, which ran continuously until December of 2019 and was one of the longest running Portuguese Radio Shows in the world.

Antonio was a longtime member of the Organization of Portuguese American Immigrants (O.P.A.I) as well as the Hudson Portuguese club, where he was a member of the board and was a coach and team manager of the Hudson Benfica soccer team for many years. He was a longtime devout parishioner of Saint Michael Church and member of the Holy Ghost Society and Lady of Fatima Society.

Antonio loved his annual trips back to his homeland of Santa Maria, where he had many beloved friends and family members, who he loved to spend time with. He had a great sense of humor and was always ready with a joke for anyone in the audience.  Antonio loved his family dearly and was a great son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and cousin. He was loved by all who knew him. May he rest in peace in heaven with his beloved wife who he loved so much and the rest of his family in heaven.

Antonio is survived by his sons, Tony E. Sousa, Sr. and his wife Emma of Hudson MA, Paul G. Sousa, Sr. and Maria Sousa of Bourne, MA, David A. Sousa and his wife Cecilia (Mis) of Leominster, MA, Albert R. Sousa of Hudson, MA, Steven L. Sousa of Marathon, FL and Carlo M. Sousa, Sr. of Warwick, RI; his grandchildren, Tony E. Sousa, Jr., Cameron M. Sousa, Nicole I. Sousa all of Hudson, MA, Paul G. Sousa, Jr. of Worcester, MA, Nicholas B. Sousa of Florida, Cecilia M. Martinez and Rachel J. Sousa of Leominster, MA, Carlo M. Sousa, Jr. and Lily H. Sousa both of Warwick, RI, 5 great grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Maria Sousa of Hudson, MA, Laudelina Azevedo of South Dartmouth; a brother-in-law, Weber Azevedo and his wife Melania of New Bedford, MA; and whom he considered as his siblings, Marta Correa, Elizabeth Sousa and her husband Carlos, Joao Manuel Correa and his wife Goretti all of Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal; his nieces and nephews, Nelson Sousa and his wife Liz, Michael Sousa, Thomas Sousa and his wife Fatima, Fatima Sousa-Blood and her husband Ken all of Hudson, MA and Ricardo Azevedo of New Bedford. He also leaves many great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, godchildren and friends, throughout the USA, Canada and Portugal.

In addition to his beloved wife Ivone Isabel (Silva Azevedo) Sousa and his parents, he was also greeted in heaven by his brother, Jose Chaves Sousa; his sister, Maria Chaves Sousa; his grandson, Joshua R. Sousa and his godparents, Rogerio and Isabel Correa.

Relatives and friends are invited to a period of visitation from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday, January 14, 2022, at TIGHE HAMILTON REGIONAL FUNERAL HOME, 50 Central St., Hudson, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial Will be Celebrated at 9:00 am on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Saint Michael Parish, 21 Manning St. Hudson, MA, followed by a procession to Saint Michael Cemetery on Cox Street, where Antonio will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife and his parents.