Jose G. DaSilva

Jose G. da Silva was born in the village of Figueiral, island of Brava on October 9th, 1927 to
Joana Goncalves da Silva and Manuel José da Silva. He lost his father, a former sailor born in
the island of Santo Antão who eventually married and settled in Brava, when he was only four.
Raised by a widow, he was no stranger to agriculture manual labor and hardships at an early
age.
Jose would marry Maria Helena Jesus da Rosa and settle in Nova Sintra, Brava. From humble
beginnings, he would learn carpentry and make a living out of it until venturing one day into
setting up a convenience store that helped him raise his children with some material comfort.
While achieving success as a shopkeeper, he also worked as a travel agent for a ship company.
Later on he decided to travel to the United States with a tourist visa. During his stay in the US
he discovered a sister living in New Bedford. He established a warm relationship with his sister,
and she decided to petition him for an immigrant visa. The main reason that led him to
immigrate was to provide better opportunities for his numerous children.
Jose was a man of great integrity who cultivated impeccable honesty and good neighborliness.
He also demonstrated the willingness to make sacrifices for the betterment of his family by
working odd jobs and living in precarious conditions for years in order to bring his wife and kids
to the United States. He was also a deeply religious man, whose strong faith allowed him to
face death without fear. Almost a decade before departing this world, he made all necessary
arrangements for his funeral and burial, motivated by his noble desire to spare his family the
burden that he thought such arrangements would place on them.
Having lost three children, one to infant mortality and two to early deaths, Jose is survived by
his wife, 12 children, 36 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, as
well as a great number of nephews and nieces