Francisco Manuel Da Cruz, of Pawtucket, RI, died peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on the morning of December 6, 2020, at the age of 92.

Born on February 28, 1928 in Santo Antão, Cabo Verde, Francisco was the loving husband of Elisa Alda Costa Da Cruz and son to the late João Francisco Da Cruz and late Doroteia Souza Cruz. Francisco began his career working for the Government of Cabo Verde with the Brigada Técnica de Estudos e Trabalhos de Hidráulica de Cabo Verde, now the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment of Cabo Verde, as a hoticulturalist as well as providing weather data collection for the area. Wanting to provide a better life for his growing family, Francisco and his wife, Elisa, came to the United States with their 6 sons in the late 1970’s and America blessed them with a daughter years later.

After emigrating to the USA, Francisco worked tirelessly to provide for his wife and children at HealthTex in Central Falls, RI, while learning English and studying to become a US citizen, a dream he soon realized; proudly hanging his American and Cape Verdean flags side by side. Although his family purchased a triple-decker in the middle of the city, he never let his agricultural roots leave him and cultivated an impressive vegetable and flower garden/mini-farm for over 40 years, a staunch supporter of local food and the importance of keeping farming alive, no matter where you reside; a true urban farmer. An avid sports fan, you could always hear a game in the background; whether soccer, hockey, football or even a boxing match. The Weather Channel was a mainstay as well, tuning in every evening as he loved tracking storms of all kinds, harkening him back to his early life’s work. A lover of music as well, the sound of Cape Verdean mornas were never far away and contributed to building a continuing legacy of musicians in the family.

Besides his beloved wife, Elisa, he is survived by his children, Osvaldo Cruz, Cesar Cruz, Tony Cruz, Manny Cruz, the late Carlos Cruz, Humberto Cruz and Michelle Cruz as well as João, Maria, Manuel, Francisca and Doroteia; siblings Paulina, Livramento, Jorge, Antonio (the late Rufino, Manuel, Estevão and Bia') many grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the USA, The Antilles and Europe.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Francisco’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Rhode Island Chapter, 245 Waterman St, Suite 306 Providence, RI or the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center 1085 N Main St, Providence, RI 02904.

A Mass will be held on Friday, December 11th, 2020, at St. John the Baptist at 11am, followed by a private burial, laying Francisco to rest at North Burial Ground in Providence, RI.