Hudson – Manuel A. Cardoza, 87, a lifelong resident of Hudson, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief illness at Marlborough Hospital.
Manny was a devoted husband to the late Mary J. (Paulino) Cardoza for 60 years; beloved father of Kathleen Ryan and her husband Jack of Hudson, Stephen Cardoza and his wife Berit of Huntington, Paula Anderson and her husband Michael of Hudson, Joanne Giancola and her husband Stephen of Marlborough, Jacqueline Johannes and her husband Bryan of Hudson, and Daniel Cardoza and his wife Nelia of Hudson; loving grampa of Laura, John, Megan, Lindsey, Matthew, Caitlin, Patrick, Molly, Nicholas, Erin, and Holly; loving great-grampy of John, Mary, Madison, Cody, and Hailey, and is also survived by his niece, Dolly Murphy of Indiana, and many other nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Violet Alves and Albert and James Cardoza.
Manny was born and raised in Hudson, son of the late Manuel V. and Mary (Xavier) Cardoza. He attended local schools and was a graduate of Hudson High School. He was a member of the Hudson High School football team and later played semi-professional football as a member of the Marlboro Leathernecks. He was a proud veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Army, 158th Infantry Combat Team in the Pacific Theatre and later served in the Hudson National Guard for several years following WWII.
He was a machinist by trade and worked for several local companies, including Cardoza Machinery of Clinton and finally Methods Machine Tools, Inc. of Sudbury until his retirement in 1990. He was a member of the American Legion in Hudson and member of Saint Michael's Parish in Hudson, where he spent many years as an usher.
Manny was an avid fan of the New England Patriots and the Red Sox. He had many interests and hobbies in his life, but none as important as spending time with his family, especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 22, at 11:00 a.m., in Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning St., Hudson. Burial will follow in Saint Michael's Cemetery. Family and friends may attend calling hours Friday, Feb. 21, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Manny may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
