Frank Jorge Silveira passed away peacefully to the arms of our Lord on the morning of May 14, 2016, after a lengthy illness. Frank was born in Cedros, Faial, Azores to Francisco and Serafina Silveira. He never learned to read or write in English or Portuguese; there was no time for that during those very hard times. He did learn about hard work ethic and practiced that his entire life. He served in the Portuguese army as a barber and was very proud of his meticulous skills and precise haircuts. He was a lifetime dairyman, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He dreamed of a better life for his family and he made it happen.
Frank married his wife, Eduardina in 1958. The Capelinhos Volcano had erupted on their island and they were given the opportunity to immigrate to the United States in 1959. They settled first in Los Banos where their daughter, Linda was born and two years later, a son, Frank, soon followed. Frank worked very hard as a milker for a few years. He and and his wife started their own dairy in 1962 on a rented dairy facility in Hilmar. In 1970, they bought their first piece of land and built the family’s current grade A dairy facility. Frank had very few days off but he loved to work. Frank was very proud of his dairy and herd. He worked endless hours to keep his facility meticulously clean and that his cows were content. Frank could often be seen driving his John Deere gator around the ranch, working with his son and checking his herd and crops. He was so proud of his dairy and he loved giving friends tours of his facility, often with his grandchildren happily riding with him. He often said, “You got time to play…you got time to work”. Frank worked as much as he could, even when his health started to fail, never stopping. He was a big man in many ways, physically strong and bold, but also a man of honesty, integrity and faith. Frank was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the YMI, the Portuguese Fraternal Society of America, O.L.F. Society and a past director of the Turlock Pentecost Association. He was very proud to be Portuguese, but was also proud to become a citizen of the United States, a country that had given him the opportunity to provide for his family.
Frank is survived by his beloved wife of almost 58 years, Eduardina, his son, Frank Z. Silveira (Hilmar) and his daughter, Linda Silva and her husband, Franklin (Los Banos), his grandchildren, Frankie Silveira, Noel Silveira, Kevin Silveira, Bernadette Silveira, Franklin Silva Jr. and Antointette (Toni) Silva, and his great grandchildren, Kevin John (KJ), Kayley and Case. He used to say, “From two come all of this!”. He is also survived by his brother, Daniel Silveira (San Jose) and many brother and sister-in-laws as well as many nieces and nephews. Services: Visitation- will be Thursday, May 19 from 2:00-5:00pm at Whitehurst Norton Dias, 286 W. Main St. Turlock. Vigil & Recitation - of the Rosary will be at 7:00 pm at Holy Rosary Catholic Church 20323 American Av., Hilmar. Funeral Mass- will be on Friday, 10:00 am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Hilmar, California. Frank M. Silveira will be laid to repose at Turlock Memorial Park, 575 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock.
Whitehurst, Norton & Dias Funeral Service, 286 W. Main St., Turlock, CA, is entrusted with all of the arrangements. (209)634-4904
www.dignitymemorial.com/whitehurst-norton-dias-funeral-service
