A funeral service was held Thursday at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Ceres for Frank Rocha Santos, 83, of Ceres. He died Sept. 27, 2009 at his home after a lengthy illness.

Interment was at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Modesto under the direction of the McHenry Chapel of Franklin and Downs.

Born Dec. 16, 1925 in Terceira, Azores, Frank married the love of his life, Maria Santos in 1952. Three years later they moved to California where Frank worked as a dairyman, a lumber mill worker, a sheet metal worker and musician. For many years Frank had two Portuguese dance bands in which his wife and brother sang and his oldest son played drums. Mr. Santos also played in Portuguese marching bands and was asked to direct one. He composed music, and especially enjoyed playing the saxophone. Frank loved his family.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 57 years, Maria Santos of Ceres; his children, Rui Santos, Fernando Santos and Lubelia (Santos) Martin; his brother, Isalino Santos; his sister, Diamentina Linhares; and six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter.

-Ceres Courier /October 7, 2009