Abilio M. Soares
1942-2026
Abilio Soares, 83, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 27, 2026 at Lower Bucks Hospital after several years of illness. He is predeceased by his wife Maria Ascensão; his brothers Jose and Orlando; and his parents Domingos and Henriqueta.
Abilio leaves behind his daughter Maria and husband Joey; his daughter Barbara and husband Anthony; and his daughter Carolina and husband Jonathan. He also leaves behind five grandchildren he absolutely adored; Julia, Michele, Sara, Henry, and Cecilia. He also leaves behind his sister (Julia); three brothers (Antonio, Firmino, Samuel); dozens of nieces and nephews; many friends in Riverside’s Portuguese community, and countless other family members and friends scattered throughout the world.
Abilio was born in his beloved Portugal to a very hard life. Though a very promising student, Abilio was never given a chance for an education beyond the fourth grade. He was needed at home to help his family, taking care of the fields, the livestock, and his six younger siblings. This need to put others before self is a recurring theme in his life.
Abilio was never one to turn away from someone who needed help and this selflessness resulted in friendships that lasted a lifetime. Abilio first left his home and family when he was drafted to join Portugal’s war in Mozambique. Among the few items Abilio brought onboard the ship to Africa were a bag of apples and a bottle of liquor he had gotten from his mother. Soon after the ship left port, Abilio encountered a young man like himself with severe seasickness. Abilio shared his apples and liquor with him, helping to ease his nausea and gain his friendship. As it turns out, this man would become the battalion’s chef. This chef likely noted that Abilio was malnourished, because he ensured that Abilio got extra portions (as well as the best food and wine that was usually reserved for the commanding officers). Over time, Abilio was able to put on weight and put on muscle, becoming one of the strongest men in the battalion.
Throughout his four years in Africa, his thoughts were always on the family he left behind and most of his salary was sent home to support them. Abilio often reminisced about the friends he had made in Africa and the camaraderie they shared. He stayed connected with the surviving members of his battalion, often visiting them and partaking in reunions even as his health began to fail.
After returning to Portugal for a brief time, Abilio spent the rest of his life as an immigrant, working in Spain, German, France, and eventually the United States. He worked hard to build a life for himself as well as provide for his family, especially after his father’s early death. Abilio worked in construction, often working from the early hours of the morning until late at night. Though the work was difficult and demanded a lot from his body, Abilio understood the value of a job well done. He remarked that any concrete job he did was done as if it were for his own home. He took pride in his work and lived honestly.
Abilio remained unmarried until later in life out of concern for the wellbeing of his parents and siblings as well as concern for his own future family. He feared raising a family in the poverty that he experienced as a child. It has often been remarked that Abilio was like a parent to his siblings because he did everything he could to ensure their wellbeing while they were building their own lives.
Concerned about his state as a permanent bachelor, Abilio’s mother asked him to write to a young Portuguese woman that she had gotten to know during her time in France. Abilio, not wanting a relationship, sent Maria the ugliest photograph he could find of himself to dissuade any potential interest. Fortunately for him, Maria was not deterred. They wrote to each other for some time, eventually falling in love. Knowing Maria sang in the church choir, Abilio secretly attended Christmas mass one year, hiding himself behind one of the columns in the church to watch her sing. This surprise visit was the beginning of a 20 year marriage that was cut short by Maria’s untimely passing 22 years ago. Abilio never remarried, out of love for Maria and a conviction that they would join her again one day. He held onto this belief up until his passing, sharing that he looked forward to seeing her soon.
Abilio could be quiet at times, but he was a powerful storyteller. His ability to impart lessons through stories was unmatched. Abilio carried centuries of life experiences that had been passed down through the generations as well as biblical stories and traditional Portuguese folklore. He often used stories to teach his daughters the value of family. There was one story in particular that he often told about a dying father and his three sons. One day, this father asked his three sons to bring him three sticks. He then asked his sons to break each stick one by one. They did as he asked and found that each stick was very easy to break. The father then asked for three more sticks. However, he instructed them to bundle them together and then try to break the entire bundle at one go. They did as he asked and found that they were unable to break the sticks. The father then told the sons that they were the sticks and that the adversity they would encounter in life would break them easily if they separated. However, it would be much harder for them to be broken if they stayed united.
Abilio was a constant presence in his daughters’ lives, helping them in any way he could and constantly praying for them. He placed them all in God’s care for anything that was out of his own hands. Abilio’s faith in God never wavered, through several years of ill health and a lifetime full of difficulties. Though he is gone from this world, Abilio lives on in the lessons he imparted, the countless stories he told over the years, the friendships he kept, the memories made, and the faith he has passed down. Given his age and the number of health issues Abilio had over the years, he never imagined he’d ever meet his grandchildren. God, however, had other plans. As much as Abilio suffered in his last years, one joy he got to experience time and time again was getting to know his grandchildren and joining them in games of dominoes, building blanket forts, laughing with them, having pillow fights, sitting next to them in a movie theater, attending mass with them, hearing them speak Portuguese, and telling them stories.
Come celebrate 83 great years on Saturday May 2nd, from 8am-9:30am at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Resurrection Parish (St. Casimir site) at 10am. Interment immediately to follow at St. Peter’s cemetery, Riverside.