Mrs. Veronica Mae (Leonard) Silva died peacefully, Friday, July 25, 2014, at her home in Provincetown surrounded by her loving family, just as she had always hoped - prayer answered.
Mom was born in Provincetown on June 15, 1932, to the late Anthony Leonard and Philomena (Cordeiro) Leonard Salvador. She was the stepdaughter of the late Ferdinand Salvador.
On Mom’s 18th birthday, June 15, 1932, she graduated Provincetown High School and became engaged to her high school sweetheart, our dad, Robert (Bob) F. Silva, also of Provincetown. They will celebrate 64 years of marriage on September 9, 2014.
Mom fought a long and determined battle against Machado-Joseph disease, also known as spinocerabellar ataxia 3 (SCA3). Mom lost both her dear brother Anthony Leonard, Jr., and loving sister, Carole Salvador Silva to SCA3. She is survived by her brothers Richard Salvador and Michael Salvador. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Bob Silva (Carole’s husband); Uncle Bob always lifted Mom’s spirits with his infectious laughter and wit.
Mom and Dad had 6 children of their own, but their definition of children grew with each marriage; Stephen William Silva (his wife, Candy), Mark Robert Silva, Karen Ann VanderMeer (her husband, Bob VanderMeer and daughter Tarrell VanderMeer Wright), Debra Mae Trovato (her husband, Michael), David Leonard Silva, Paul Richard Silva (his wife, Karen). We include middle names as Mom did often have to use them...at least for the first four of us.
Mom couldn’t wait to be a grandmother and according to her, she was getting a pretty late start. However, with another prayer answered, she became Nana for the first time just before her 55th birthday and then they all came at once: Jenna VanderMeer, Ross Silva, Kendra VanderMeer, Megan (VanderMeer) Lewis, Cody Silva, Emma Silva, Kelsey Trovato, Natalie Silva, Kaitlyn Silva, Michael Trovato, and Patrick Silva...Yes, 11 grandchildren in eleven years.....but wait....once again the definition of grandchildren grew with a promise to her dear friend Beatrice Gaspa, so now she added two more; Kenneth Gaspa and Veronica Gaspa - make that a baker’s dozen and we know how Nana loved to bake!
Our Mom also loved to dance and swim and even played a little golf.; she enjoyed bowling with the Sad Saks, and walking with her Walking Girls; but the joy that paralleled the joy of her being Nana was just spending time and making memories with her and Dad’s many friends; too many to name but you will know who you are. Mom loved being home and loved to entertain. She was an amazing cook and did so with great ease, at least it always seemed that way. Mom was a fashionista! She loved to shop! Loved to dressed up and go out, and was always stylish, even at 82. Mom was (and we’re sure, still is) a prayer warrior!! At the top of her list were prayers for her and Dad‘s many God children, nieces and nephews. She wore out many a rosary bead and novena booklet praying for the people she loved. Her faith was her rock!!
Mom’s family grew in another way these last six years and her children want to acknowledge and thank the many loving, and devoted caregivers, who cared for
our Mom so well; with special recognition to those most recently caring for her and who have been with Mom for many years: Isabel, Carol, Angella, Beverly, Tresa, Rebecca, Georgette, Ann Marie, Donna and Dot. You each used your God given gifts to uniquely bring joy and care to our Mom. You’ll always be part of our family!
In keeping with Mom’s wishes, there will be no wake service. Instead, she hopes that you can make it to her funeral Mass. If that’s not possible, please join us to celebrate her life following Mass at The Red Inn, 15 Commercial Street, Provincetown from 11:30 until 2:30. If neither of those is possible, please say a prayer or do something special for someone, in her memory, on that day.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter the Apostle Church, 11 Prince Street, Provincetown on Friday, August 1, 2014, at 10:00 am followed by an internment in St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mom’s honor may be made to the National Ataxia Foundation, 2600 Fernbrook Lane, Suite#119, Minneapolis, MN 55447 (www.ataxia.org), or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Peter the Apostle Church, 11 Prince Street, Provincetown, MA 02657