Iraja Santos

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Iraja Santos, 71, of Chaffee, formerly of Lake Hiawatha, N.J., passed away Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, at Odin Nursing Home in Odin, Ill.

He was born Feb. 26, 1942, in Ponta Grossa, Parana, Brazil, to the late Jose and Conceicao Reis Santos. He and Heloisa Maria Andrade were married June 22, 1963.

Iraja was a parachutist in the military in Brazil. He worked at Curtiss Wright Flight System in New Jersey. He also was part owner, along with his son Fabian Santos, and chef at Fabian's Italian Restaurant in Sikeston, Mo., for two years. He retired from Braswell Water Softener Co. in Jackson after 16 years of service.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Heloisa of the home; a son, Fabian Eduardo (Bonnie) Santos of Gilbert, Ariz.; a daughter, Adriane DeAndrade Santos of Chaffee; a sister, Maria Yara Casarini of Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil; three grandsons, Michael James Santos, Anthony David Cameron and Nicholas Xavier Santos; and a granddaughter, Sabrina Noelle Santos.

He was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of service Friday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Randy Tochtrop as celebrant and the Rev. Jose Araque as concelebrant.

Online condolences may be made at amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.