Obituary of Justo E. Barreiro

Justo "Ernest" Barreiro, 88, passed away in his sleep, in Binghamton, NY, on the morning of February 1, 2012 to join his parents Anastacio and Whillhelmina (Terry) Barreiro and siblings Anita, José, and Robert Barreiro in glory. He was born and grew up in the Bronx, NY. Ernest served in the US Army as a medic. After his discharge, he lived for many years on Staten Island, NY with his wife Arminta (Thompson), and lovingly raised 3 children. Ernest will also rejoin his wife and their son, Juan "Chubbs", who both passed while living there. After their deaths, he moved to Queens and married Dorothy Russell, who has also predeceased him. During that period, he was a very active member of the Riverside Church near Harlem. After her death, Ernest lived with his daughter, Arminta "Dosia" Barreiro in Far Rockaway, Queens. He moved to Binghamton, NY in 2016 to live with his elder son due to the failing health of his daughter who sadly passed in 2017. While living on Staten Island, Ernest worked for and retired from the NYC Transit Authority where he worked as a motorman on the RR line of the subway. Ernest initially was a member of the Staten Island 7th Day Adventist Church. Later he joined the Lighthouse Deliverance & Evangelistic Center where he played the piano. He was also active with several youth groups. Ernest loved life and "the time I've been given by the good Lord to live on this earth." He rarely complained about anything, even as his dementia advanced. In Binghamton, Ernest loved the open spaces, fresh air, and being able to go up on hills and view the valley from different angles. And he rarely passed up an opportunity for a ride through the countryside. Ernest is survived by his eldest son Micah and daughter-in-law Cynthia, 6 grandchildren, Marcya, Stephen, Khristopher and Sarita Barreiro, Ebony (Jackson) Hattoh, Korin Kirk and 12 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his brother-in-law Bishop Stephen Thompson and his wife Willie Mae, sister-in-law Mariá Thompson, and Cynthia's sisters Karen and Leslie Braxton. We know that his many nieces, nephews, and community friends will miss his smile and the jokes he loved to tell. His great-grandchildren will miss learning history from "you were actually alive when that happened Grandpa?" And the passing down of family history in story form like no one else could ever do. We all will fondly remember that when he was asked how he felt, his response was, "I feel with my hands." A virtual celebration of Ernest's life will be announced at a later date. Once we can all get together again, there will be a service at Clover Leaf Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ, where he will be interred next to his wife, Arminta. To those left behind: "The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV Expressions of sympathy may be sent to: POB 2121, Binghamton, NY 13902-2121 or MrMicah@stny.rr.com.