Gabriel B. Senna, 83, of Mattapoisett died Wednesday July 27, 2011 after a long illness. He was the husband of Flora G. (Sylvia) Senna; they had been married for 55 years.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Maranhao) Senna, he lived in Mattapoisett since 1962.

He was a communicant of St. Anthony's Parish, where he participated in many parish activities and served as a lector and Eucharistic minister. He was a member of the Holy Spirit Sacred Heart Society, the Holy Name Society, the Secular Third Order of St. Francis, the Legion of Mary, and the Rosary Group. He participated in Cursillo, ECHO, Emmaus, and Marriage Encounter programs. He was the recipient of the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River. He lived an extensive prayer life.

Mr. Senna was employed as the distribution department foreman for the Standard-Times until his retirement in 1988 after 44 years of service.

During the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Army with the 756th Transportation Outfit at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He was a member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Joyce E. Messier and her husband Neal of Attleboro; two granddaughters, Catherine Jane and Katelyn Paula Messier; all of the Emmet Family, David, Paula, Joshua, Samamtha, and Molly, whom he and his wife considered as a part of their family; his siblings, Arthur B. Senna and Priscilla Dean, both of New Bedford, and Esther Kirk of Florida; and many Godchildren, nieces, and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Delores Galary, Clara Alves, Lillian Santos, Shirley Oliveira, Dorothy, Joseph, Daniel, and Gilbert Senna.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday July 30, 2011 at St. Anthony's Church. Burial with military honors followed in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett.