Obituaries

José Coelho da Silva Guerreiro passed away on December 28, 2024, aged 87, due to the effects
of a severe stroke.
José was born in Portugal in 1937, and came to Canada in 1962 to make a new life. With him
came his wife and lifelong sweetheart, Eugenia da Costa Pires Guerreiro. Once José arrived in
Vancouver, he began building.
He built a family—his daughter, Sandra Guerreiro was born just ten months after his arrival in
his new country. Three years later, his beloved mother Isabel da Silva joined them, and
together the four of them created a family unit. After moving to Victoria and achieving her
degree in theatre, Sandra married Charles Procure. José loved Charles like the son he never
had, and they spent hours together, sharing woodworking skills and collaborating on projects
around the house. José also adored his three grandchildren (Nicholas, Aidan, and Jaren
Guerreiro) and their partners (Sandra, Hannah, and Statia) and they all adored him in return. As
a “tio” to a large network of cousins, José provided wise advice about all of life’s major
decisions and minor problems.
He built a home as well—or homes. Into his three houses, José poured his creativity, his
resourcefulness, and his talents as a handyman. Much of each house he built himself, from
wiring to moulding to foundations to cabinetry. And while his wife Eugenia cultivated flowers,
José’s vegetable gardens were a thing of legend. Gigantic zucchini, tart peppers, plump
tomatoes, beans, squash, and great heads of lettuce he grew and gave to everyone he met.
With this generosity, José built a community. His daughter Sandra called him the “Mayor of
Alice Street,” and not without reason. He loved the Cedar Cottage area and never wanted to
leave it. Sharing vegetables with neighbours, helping with household repairs, even just listening
to the children making their way to the nearby school filled him with joy. During the days, José
connected with his many friends over the phone. In the evenings, José would watch animal
shows and think deeply about the nature of the world around him.
José was also proud of the contributions he made to building this city. He spent many years
working in construction as a member of Labourer’s International Union of North America Local
1611. José never missed work for illness or injury and was always the last one on site each day.
He worked for private companies and the City of Vancouver on projects like BC Place, UBC
campus, the Alex Fraser Bridge, and many more.
From gifts to homes to advice, José built a legacy that will never be forgotten. Everyone who
knew him will remember his funny sayings, his endless generosity, his creative solutions, and
his reflections on the universe. He will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Heart and Stroke Foundation:
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/