Gilberto (Gil) R.C. Amaral, 87, of Middleborough, MA, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 2, 2024, at Newfield House in Plymouth, MA after a long battle with cancer.  Gil was the son of the late Tobias C. Amaral and Maria L. (Rodrigues) Amaral of Middleborough, MA. 

Born in Ponta Garcia, Sao Miguel, Azores on February 12, 1937, Gil emigrated to the United States in 1955 with other family members to Middleborough, MA and became a United States Citizen in 1957.  Gil was an avid bowler and achieved several records at Lakeville Recreation Bowling Alley.  He also enjoyed playing softball, fishing, playing the lottery and cooking Portuguese food, but his real passion was soccer.  His other passion was lawn work, and he was never happier than when he was on his tractor mowing his lawn.

Gil started working in the Middleborough shoe factories and then became a supervisor at Component Manufacturing in West Bridgewater, MA.  He left that job to become a custodian at the Memorial Junior High School, a position that he retired from in 1999 after almost 14 years.  Not a person to sit idle, he then became a crossing guard at both the Nichols Middle School and the elementary school for over 8 years until his health forced him to retire again in 2023 at age 86.  He also started a lawn mowing business in his retirement.   

A devoted member of Sacred Heart Church, Gil is survived by his children, Tracie Craig-McGee and her husband, Tim of Middleborough and Michael Amaral and his wife Linda of Middleborough; two grandchildren: Andrew Craig and his wife Samantha of Suffolk, VA and Nicole Craig of Taunton MA and two great-granddaughters Macie and Teagan Craig, who were the light of Gil’s life.  He also leaves behind his brother Antonio (Tony) Amaral of Middleborough and M. Louisa (Amaral) Brown of Middleborough and many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his brother Jose Amaral; Conceicao (Amaral) DeCosta; and his twin sister M. Deodata (Amaral) Gomes and his ex-wife Sandra (Hayes) Amaral. 

Visitation for Gil will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home, 280 Bedford Street, Lakeville, MA. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church located at 340 Center Street, Middleboro on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM.  Gil will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Middleboro after the funeral mass.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gil to the Red Sox Jimmy Fund are appreciated. 

Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home
280 Bedford Street
Lakeville, MA 02347
508-946-9655
www.D-MFH.com