Manuel Fernando Zorra
Obituary
Manuel Fernando Zorra passed away peacefully at his home in Watsonville on September 8, 2025. He was 88 years old.
Manuel was born on March 13, 1937 in Faial, Azores to Jose and Aida Zorra. He immigrated to the United States in March of 1959 and settled in Watsonville with his wife and two daughters in 1970. He worked for Phillips Driscopipe and also got his real estate license. In 2004, he received the Community Service Award from the Watsonville Association of Realtors.
Manuel was active in the Portuguese community and served as a Director and President of Irmandade Santissima Trindade Watsonville (ISTW). He was also a longtime parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Watsonville.
Manuel is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Maria Zorra; his loving daughters, Emily (Victor) Balli and Debie (Julio) Montoya; his granddaughters Andrea (Alfredo) Marquez, Jillian (James) Doerbaum, and Felicia (Drew) Terp; great grandchildren, Elizabeth Marquez, Isaac Marquez, June Doerbaum, Ripley Doerbaum, and Andersen Terp (due November 2025). He also leaves behind his siblings, Izilda Zorra, Joe (Judite) Zorra, Connie (Antonio) Dutra, Frank (Carmen) Zorra, Theresa (Bernardino) Santos, Ida (Manuel) Silva and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Aida Zorra; mother-in-law, Maria Zorra; sister and brother-in-law, Eduardina and Frank Silveira; sister-in-law, Connie Zorra; and nephew, Brian Zorra.
Services will be held at St. Patrick's Church in Watsonville on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Viewing and Rosary will begin at 9:00 am, with a funeral mass at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Watsonville Catholic Cemetery, 1456 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville. Memorial reception after burial will be held at the ISTW Portuguese Community Center 124 Atkinson Lane, Watsonville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: ISTW Charity and Scholarship 124 Atkinson Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076 or St. Jude's Children Hospital (www.stjude.org), 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.
Mehl's Colonial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.
Published in The Pajaronian · September 10, 2025