JOHN XAVIER BETTENCOURT (December 22, 1940 -- April 25, 2024)

Born on the 22nd of December 1940 on the Portuguese island of Pico in the village of Santa Cruz das Rebeiras , John Xavier Bettencourt became a savvy fisherman at a young age selling his catch door to door to neighbors. This early introduction to the sea would become a lifelong passion.

The second child of Valentim & Aurora who preceded him in death, John later joined the Portuguese Army as a cook and soon immigrated to Canada where he worked on a tabaco farm. His travels would lead him to San Diego, CA and then Sanger, CA where he lived for almost 40 years. For all his many adventures and travels around the world his loyalty to the sea never faded, but it did not compare to his loyalty to his favorite soccer team FC Porto; two passions that would last his whole life.

Beyond his hobbies John was a hard worker and dedicated husband to Rosa, his wife of 45 years who survives him along with his 3 eldest children from his first marriage: Lorraine, Arlene and Jeanette, and his two sons with Rosa, Paul and John Phillip. John was also the gentle and kind grandfather of 1 grandson and 5 granddaughters, 1 great-grandson and 3 great-granddaughters and a supportive brother to 4 surviving siblings Manuel, Antonio, Maria Alice, Laurentina and 1 sister, Diodette, who preceded him in death as an infant. John left this earth fittingly on the 25th of April, Portugal's national holiday of freedom and liberation — now he too is free. John was a good and friendly man with a hearty laugh who will never be forgotten by those who loved him.