Manuel Barao, 103, of Dartmouth died Wednesday July 6, 2011. He was the husband of the late Irene (Sylvia) Barao.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late John S. and Ludvina (Lima) Barao who owned Barao's Market at 666 South Water Street, he lived in New Bedford for most of his life.

He was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church.

Mr. Barao was formerly employed at the New Bedford Post Office for 22 years until his retirement on November 30, 1977.

During World War II, he served as a Technician Fifth Grade, with the U.S. Army Combat Engineers in England and was honorably discharged on January 7, 1945. He received a diploma from the Kinyon Business School on June 20, 1947 for the completion of the Accounting and Business Administration course. He was a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed dancing and playing poker.

Survivors include a sister, Cecilia Freitas of Springfield, VA; and his nieces and nephews, Maria Costa, Dorothy Pedro, Louis Silva, John Barao, Jr., Michael Freitas, and Jeffrey Freitas.

He was the brother of the late John Barao, Alves Barao, Frank Barao, and Mary S. Silva and the uncle of the late Eleanor Gracie, Raymond Barao, Norman Barao, and Alvaro Barao.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 9 AM at St. John the Baptist Church. Burial with military honors will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.