Family and friends are celebrating the life of Joseph Bettencourt, 91 of Gainesville who passed peacefully on November 26, 2014 at home surrounded by his family.
Joseph was born in Cambridge, MA on November 30, 1922. He graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School prior to entering the Navy. He served on a “repair ship” during World War II repairing electronics on large war ships in the Pacific. Upon return, Joseph fell in love and married Arlene Downs Bettencourt in 1947. They raised four sons in Woburn, MA while he earned a BBA in Engineering and Management from Northeastern University in 1955. At age 55, Joseph retired from Raytheon to pursue a second career in the ministry. Joseph and Arlene relocated to Gainesville, FL to lead the congregation at Unity Church of Gainesville.
Surviving sons are Joseph (and Kathy) Bettencourt, Jr of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Kenneth Bettencourt of Gainesville, Carl (and Ann) Bettencourt of Naples, ME, and David Bettencourt of Gainesville. Surviving grandchildren are Amy (and Brian) Pelkey, Colleen (and Noah) Manley, Carl Bettencourt, Jr, Christopher Bettencourt, Aaron (and Erin) Aspinall, and Christina Aspinall. Great grandchildren include Colby Bettencourt, Tyson Pelkey, Otto and Hera Aspinall, and Leah Ridge.
To honor Joseph’s life, a viewing will be held at 1:00pm followed by a service at 2:00pm at Unity Church of Gainesville on Friday, November 28th 2014, Interment will immediately follow at Forest Meadows Memorial Park Central. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Unity Church of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bettencourt family in this time of sadness.