John G. Gouveia

John G. Gouveia, 91, of Taunton, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 22, 2021 at the Life Care Center of Raynham. He was the loving and devoted husband of Arlene P. (Rose) Gouveia. They were married for 61 years.

Born on May 10, 1929 in Taunton, he was the son of the late Manuel Gouveia Gonsalves and Mary Costa Galego.

He attended Hopewell School and Taunton High School. He served proudly in the United States Army during the Korean War with the rank of Corporal. John was stationed in Germany guarding the Czech border and worked in the motor pool tending to the jeeps and tanks, and other military vehicles.

After his honorable discharge he worked for the Talbot Wool, Larsen Tool & Stamping, City of Taunton Cemetery Department, and lastly as a custodian at Taunton High School. He worked for the City of Taunton for a total of 36 years. At Taunton High, he was loved and well respected by the teachers and students alike. The students that met him years later would always stop and tell him that he made a big impression in their lives. He was a member of the Saint Peter’s Society following in his father's footsteps, the Taunton Golden Agers, and the Taunton Whist Club and was a CYO Basketball Coach for the Immaculate Conception Church.. John and Arlene played Whist competitively for over 60 years. They played  Whist in Taunton, Raynham, Norton, Bridgewater, Carver, Foxboro, New Bedford, and many other locations in Massachusetts, Chepachet Rhode Island, and Connecticut. He was the 2018 Season Champion of the Taunton Whist Club.

Mr. Gouveia was an auto racing fan for over 60 years including traveling to Lonsdale, RI, Seekonk, Norwood, Thompson, Connecticut and Langhorne, Pennsylvania. John also followed NASCAR faithfully on TV.  He also enjoyed meticulously taking care of his lawn and keeping his automobiles shined and polished. He enjoyed his  daily walks until his health prevented him from doing so. He was an avid fan of Jeopardy, he often wrote to Alex Trebek as if he was a friend and always received a response. He loved asking trivia questions to his wife, students, and teachers at Taunton High School, never knowing the answers himself, he would always look them up in advance. At Taunton High School, he recognized the students that were in need of help and friendship. He was always there to offer them advice, and help them in many ways such as career paths, and real life skills. His famous saying was “Get a job working for the City or State or Federal Government ”. He also had a profound love for his wife Arlene, his mother, as well as his inlaws Joseph and Mary Rose, and his relationship with his only child, John, was very special..Supported him in Music, BMX Racing, CYO Basketball, and the Taunton Whist Club..

In addition to his wife Arlene, he is survived by his only son, John J. Gouveia, and his wife Linda (Widak) Gouveia of Taunton; his sister Mary (Gonsalves) Madden, and her husband, William Madden, of Taunton. John was the brother of the late Richard, Joseph and Antone Gonsalves. He also leaves 4 nephews  David Gonsalves of Taunton, Michael Gonsalves of Providence, Steven Gonsalves of Middleboro, Donald Rose of Ohio, and the late Christopher Rose of Maine.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, in the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Taunton (at Saint Mary’s Square).

Additional parking with handicap access is located on the North side of the funeral home.

His funeral will be held on Friday, February 26, 2021 at 8:30 am, from the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Taunton (at Saint Mary’s Square) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am, in Saint Anthony Church, 126 School Street, Taunton. Interment will be in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Taunton.

Facial coverings and social distancing will be required during all services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cory's Cause in memory of the John Gouveia Scholarship, 35 Mello's Farm Road, Taunton, MA 02780 or at www.coryscause.com.

For expressions of sympathy, to sign an online guestbook or to light a memorial candle, visit www.silvafuneralhome.com