Obituary of Thomas Francis Sousa

A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Rita's Catholic Church in Fairfax, California for Tom Sousa who passed away at his Santa Cruz home after battling Polycystic Kidney Disease for many years. He was 40 years old. Born in Burlingame, California, Tom has lived in Santa Cruz for the past 12 years. He was raised in San Anselmo, in Marin County; graduating from San Andreas High School. He had a passion for motorcycles, and many happy memories of Tom's childhood while riding dirt bikes and mountain bikes throughout the hills of Marin, will be cherished by his parents and loved ones. Tom was a loving and devoted father, and fought through tough times with both his health and his finances. Tom however remained constant in maintaining the welfare and safety for his two young sons. This alone was of paramount importance in his life. Tom worked in the construction trade for 15 years, and as his health gave way, worked in restaurants and other jobs to support his family. He was featured in a Santa Cruz Sentinel article published on Christmas Day in 2012, while he and his sons were residents of the Homeless Service Center on Coral Street. He will forever be remembered as a very likable, "People Person" with an outgoing and positive attitude. He leaves many dear friends in both the San Anslemo and Fairfax areas, and Santa Cruz. Tom is survived by his sons, Thomas (age 14) and Lucas (age 13), and their mom Stacy Nail all of Santa Cruz. He also leaves his parents, Antone and Petite Sousa, and his brothers; Bryan Sousa, and Federal Sousa, all of San Anselmo, and his sister Starla Valerio of Fairfax, along with loving nieces: Angelica, Madison, Valentina, and much extended family. The memorial mass will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at St. Rita's Church in Fairfax, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with a reception in the church hall to follow at 12:30. A time to say farewell to Tom, and share fond memories of him, will be on Saturday afternoon, May 17, 2014 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Paradox Hotel, 611 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz. A private burial will take place at Mt. Tamalpias Memorial Park. Thomas's sons also suffer from the same disease as their father, and any kind acts of charity can be made to help cure those afflicted with Polycystic Kidney disease, by visiting www.pkdcure.org.