On April 15, Lidio Augusto Afonso, of Guilford, passed away at St. Raphael’s Hospital at the age of 89. He was the loving husband of the late Alicia Ema (née Gomez) Afonso, and the proud father of his three children, Nelson (Angela) Afonso, Doris (Christopher) Kandel, and Alicia (Nelson) Barreira. He is also survived by his grandchildren: John Joseph Afonso Barreira, Alicia Michelle Afonso, Samuel Afonso Kandel, Sara Marie Afonso Barreira, Antonio Augusto Afonso, and Adelena Faith Afonso.

Over the course of his 89 years on this earth, he lived an incredibly full life. He grew up in the small town of Xertelo, Portugal, with his eight brothers and sisters and moved to America as a young man. Here he worked as a laborer for many years in the construction industry. As a longtime resident of Mount Vernon, New York, he most enjoyed the time spent with family. Over the years, he continued his passion for gardening vegetables and had bountiful crops that he shared with many families. His tomatoes were a fan favorite.

He frequented Guilford to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He loved watching Gunsmoke on Tuesday nights with his granddaughters, Sara and Alicia. He loved working in his yard, the fresh air, and the slower pace that Guilford had to offer.

Lidio is considered the heart of his family and will always continue to be. He brought everyone closer together and made his family smile just with his presence.

Friends and family are invited to calling hours from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 21, at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield Street, Guilford. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405; www.hospice.com. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.