It’s been one year since his passing. Life has been hard since he left. We all miss him very much and wish he was still here with us. 

Love you all and hug your loved ones as life is very short. 

I will always remember Tio Dirceu as a hardworking, funny, caring, car guy. One of my first fondest memories of him is when he took me to Santa Fe Speedway for the first time as a little girl. To this day I remember there was a female driver there and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever! Now looking back as an adult I truly believe that just by including me in one of his hobbies/passions he changed my prospective in life. Who cares if you are a girl, drive the fast car. He is absolutely the reason I love cars, bikes, boats, anything with an engine in it.  It may not have been his intention, he had no idea, nor would he, but looking back it’s absolutely something that I should have shared with him. It’s not always the grand gestures that stick with the child, sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

You will be missed Tio! Rest in peace.

Dear Aunt Lidia, Lionel, Joel, and all of Dirceu's family and friends, our sincerest condolences and prayers are with you.  May God give you strength and comfort.

With Love and Sympathy,

The Dwyer Family 

My grandfather was preceded in death by his mother, father, and his beloved brother. He leaves behind his loving sisters, wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He was a pioneer, a trailblazer, and the first in our family to set foot in the United States. Despite spending much of his life here, his heart always belonged to his home country of Brazil. He traveled back often, a testament to his resilience and his unwavering connection to the land, family, and friends he cherished.

One of his greatest passions was Brazilian country music, or as we call it, 'música sertaneja.' He deeply loved this genre; it was part of his everyday life. I remember bringing him DVDs of Brazilian country concerts, including some gifted by his late brother, and adding some to his growing collection. Music brought him joy and a connection to home. He also enjoyed Brazilian soap operas, collecting them on VHS tapes back in the day. These were just some things that kept him tied to his roots.

My grandfather had a unique sense of humor. He was a man of endless jokes—everyone who knew him could recall something funny he had said. That sense of humor was something he inherited from his father, and it was a gift he shared generously with all of us. He loved to make people laugh, and his jokes brought joy and light into our lives, a part of him that will stay with us forever.

He was also a great lover of animals, especially his dogs and cats. His love for pets was a reflection of his deep compassion and warmth. I remember Duke, his dog, who he would often joke about being "mean," though that dog truly had a way of keeping strangers at bay. He loved Duke and all his pets deeply, and his warmth extended to all those around him.

I also remember hosting Thanksgiving one year with him, his wife Lidia, my godparents, some close friends, and our family. It was a wonderful gathering filled with laughter, warmth, and love. His love for his family was evident in these moments, and these are the memories I hold onto—times when we were all together, sharing good food, good company, and, most importantly, love.

One special memory I hold dear is when my grandfather met my son when his great-grandson was just a newborn. I was arriving at a local Brazilian bakery in Boca Raton when I unexpectedly found him sitting with my godparents, enjoying breakfast. It was a moment that felt spontaneous and joyful, just like him.

Vo, as I used to call him, while I may not have inherited your incredible sense of humor, you did leave me and our family with your best features: the big nose and the big lips—the prominent traits of the dos Santos family passed on to you from my great-grandfather Vo Manuel. Even your great-grandson Ethan features those prominent characteristics, a true trademark of the dos Santos family. After all, I might have inherited a little bit of your sense of humor.

Rest in peace, Vo. Your legacy lives on in all of us, and I will carry these cherished memories in my heart forever.

With love,

Your granddaughter,

Dr. Connie Ortiz

I was devastated when I heard the news of Dirceu's passing, and I am so sad and heartbroken. It's been a hard past few days. He was 88 but that doesn't make it any easier to accept. I was 12 and my brother, Joel, was 4 when our biological father passed away at the age of 53. And, now we have lost our dad once again. I was fortunate to have Dirceu in my life for almost 40 years. Dirceu taught me so much about life, cars, how to bbq, how to make a mean caipirinha, and so much more. This man could fix anything. He was a mechanical genius. You name it and he could take it apart and make it work good as new. He built food trucks from scratch. Amazing. Very impressive and inspiring. He was tough as nails, but with a kind and compassionate heart. You might say a 'man's man' who taught me not to take crap from anyone and to stand up for myself and those I cared about. We would spend hours just shooting the breeze. Laughing. Telling jokes. He helped me get my first car and loaned me all the other cool cars when he was working in the auto business. He put up with a lot at times but always understood and gave me and my brother second and third chances. There were good times and bad times, but that's life. Now that I'm a father I totally understand better. He was the dad that me and my brother needed at that stage in our lives. We understand now why he did what he did and gave advice even if it was the cold, hard truth. It toughened us up. I'm going to miss him very much. I'm going to continue to be the best father I can be because of the dads I had in my life. Rest in peace, my dear Dirceu. I loved you very much. I wish I could have seen you once again. Say hi to all our loved ones who have passed. Have that great churrasco BBQ and watch over all of us please.  And, to my living family, all of you, I love you all very much and will never stop showing and telling you so. Be strong. Always here for you. Yours truly,  Lionel Da Silva

Our deepest sympathy to Dirceu's family, friends and neigbors.  Dirceu was such a hard worker.  We will miss him dearly.  We will keep Dirceu and his family in our thoughts and prayers.