Confesor Villanueva

SOUTHBRIDGE – Confesor Villanueva, 90, of Woodstock Rd., died Wednesday, July 21, in Webster Manor after an illness.  His wife of 50 years, Josefina (Santiago) Villanueva predeceased him.  He leaves four sons, Wilfredo Villanueva, and his wife, Brenda, with whom he lived, Abraham Villanueva, and his wife, Linda, Aristides Villanueva, and his wife, Carmen, and Teleforo C. Villanueva, all of Puerto Rico; two daughters, Patricia Ramirez, of Florida, and Mildred Villanueva, and her husband Vincent, of Puerto Rico; 1 sister, 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  He was also predeceased by two brothers.

He was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, the son of the late Francisco and Petra (Rodriguez) Villanueva, and grew up in Puerto Rico.  He started his own grocery store business which he owned and operated in New York for 20 years, and in Puerto Rico for 35 years.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Church for the last two years.  At the age of 88, he was baptized by Fr. Peter Joyce, and made his first communion.  He enjoyed watching baseball, and was an avid Red Sox fan. 

A funeral Mass was held at 10:00am, Saturday, July 24, in St. Mary’s Church, Hamilton St., Southbridge.  Burial will be in Antiguo Cemeterio Municipal de Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.  The Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home, 51 Marcy St., Southbridge, is directing arrangements.  An online guestbook is available at www.BelangerFuneralHome.com.