Elaine M. Silva passed away unexpectedly, on Friday, August 19, 2016, surrounded by her loving family, at Saint Luke's Hospital.
She was the mother of her only child whom she adored, Lyle A. Silva and the daughter of Maria (Livramento) Silva and the late Alfredo B. "Freddie" Silva.
Elaine was proud to have been employed by the New Bedford Police Department as an officer and detective until her retirement in 2001. She was the coordinator of numerous Police Department and Community programs that supported the city's youth. She was previously employed as a Hairdresser at Hertha's Beauty Salon.
She was a graduate of Greater New Bedford Vocational Regional Technical High School and Newbury Junior College.
Elaine was tirelessly dedicated to the upbringing of her son Lyle. She was a mother to many of his friends and the neighborhood kids where she resided in the city’s west and south end. As a 15 year veteran of the New Bedford Police Department, Elaine became one of the first Cape Verdean female police officers in the city and rose to the ranks of Detective through nothing but dedication to the people of her city, along the way making endless friends and family by adhering to the true meaning of public servant. Elaine was a true pillar of her community.
Survivors include her mother, her son, two granddaughters Cyiece Tademy of Tampa, Florida and Cyrenae Tademy of Bowie, Maryland; a great-granddaughter, Cy’lin Tademy of Tampa, Florida; one brother Alfredo "Sonny" Silva and his wife Faith; six sisters: Yvonne Houtman and her husband Raymond, Peggy Dias and her husband Mark, and Diane Tavares all of New Bedford; Shirley Silva-Paige, Beverly Gresham, and Melissa Wilson and her husband Conan, all of Maryland; and Doris and Doreen Soares also of New Bedford; her brothers-in-law, Daniel DeBarros and Amilton Tavares, Sr., and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and good friends.
Elaine was the sister of the late Sandra S. Gonsalves and her husband John Gonsalves, Anna M. Silva, and Antonet "Toni" Silva.
Her Funeral will be held on Saturday August 27, 2016 at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Lawrence Church at 10 AM. Cremation will follow. Visiting hours will be on Friday August 26, 2016 from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a GoFundMe account set up in her memory https://www.gofundme.com/2bj3t97h. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.