Daniel “Sonny” Cruz, Sr.
February 02, 1929 – August 18, 2018
“Sonny” went home to a loving savior suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday evening, August 18. He passed-on in the peaceful surroundings at the Roxbury home he shared with his son. He was 89 years old. Born in Wareham/Onset, he was one of several children given to the union of the late John Burt Cruz, Sr. and Caroline (Pina) Cruz.
“Sonny” received his formal education attending schools in Onset and Wareham High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, served during the Korean Conflict, was honorably discharged in 1952 at the rank of Corporal and returned home.
He married the former Sadie Johanna Monteiro and their union was blessed with three sons and three daughters. He resided in Chelsea for 20 years before settling in Brockton in 1973. He had been residing in Roxbury for the past two and a half years. Sonny worked as a Master Carpenter and was a member of the Carpenters Union Local 33. He also worked many weekends with Cruz Construction Company, a family business established in 1948 by his brother John. Sonny worked full-time for Cruz Const. for 40 years before retiring two years ago at the age of 87.
In his lifetime, Sonny enjoyed music and dancing and was especially fond of Jazz and R&B. He would frequently be the last to leave a venue or night club as long the music was playing and there was a place to dance, sometimes out dancing and outlasting his partners who’d usually consist of his daughters and nieces and other beloved family members.
He was the former husband of the late Sadie Johanna (Monteiro) Cruz, devoted father of Vanessa Cruz of Stone Mountain, GA, Antone Cruz of Holbrook, Daniel Cruz, Jr. and his wife, Gina of Roxbury, Rachel A. (Cruz) Griffin and her husband, Timothy, Sr. of Orange, Lisa (Cruz) Kincade of Roslindale, and Darren K. Cruz and his wife, Ingrid of Brockton; dear brother of Walter B. “Bubba”. Cruz, Sr. of Wareham, Andrea Rose of Mattapoisett, the late Bertha May, Priscilla Martin, Winifred T. Holford, Doris Vincente, Thelma Franklin, Harold, John B. “Bertie” Jr., Richard “Dickie” and Wilfred “Fifi” Cruz, Walter B. (eldest) and Daniel Cruz (eldest), Gerald Pina and Geraldine Pina. He was the dear brother-in-law to Marjorie Silva of Lynn, Mabel Mann of Swampscott, Antonia Duarte of Revere, Gladys Fermino of East Providence, Pearl Monteiro of Hyde Park, Rachel Silva of Boston, the late Dolores B. Tynes, Frances B. Pawlak and Edna Monteiro. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.
Visiting Hours on Sunday, August 26, will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. Funeral Home fully handicap accessible, ample parking opposite Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted from the Holy Tabernacle Church, 70 Washington St., Dorchester on Monday, August 27, at 10 a.m. Family and friends are invited to the church commencing at 9 a.m. Services will conclude with internment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.