Yvonne Regina DaSilva was born in Georgetown, Guyana, South America (British Guiana), on February 27, 1937, to Carmelita and Cyril Da Silva. She was the second child of eight and grew up on a farm until her father passed away when she was 12 years old.
In 1958, Mom came to Canada with her first two children, Carmelita and Nicholas. She was only 21 years old, but she was strong, courageous, and fearless. Mom resided in Toronto, then later in Scarbrough, Ontario.
Mom was a devout Catholic who found strength many days in her prayers. She loved attending Mass and Manresa Retreats, especially in the spring when the Creator shows us the beauty of new beginnings.
Mom loved gardening, sewing, crafting, and refurnishing furniture. She was charitable in all aspects of her life, going so far as to take foreign students into her home so they could continue their education here in Canada. Mom loved her adopted country, Canada. She adjusted to our winters and was very patriotic, instilling the same in her children.
Mom would sew Christmas pajamas for all of us, sewing well into the night as she knew the morning pictures would be plentiful. We always received our requested gifts because Mom had such a strong desire for all of us to believe.
Over the years, Mom worked outside of the home, making Headlines as a hero for saving a young boy who was hit by a motor vehicle on her way to work. Mom assisted until the ambulance arrived. We were so proud of her, as she had just completed the Saint John Ambulance Course and was able to put her lessons into practice.
Mom loved her position at Revenue Canada, having studied thoroughly to qualify as a PM1 due in part to encouragement from her husband, her supervisors, and colleagues, all of who respected her work ethic and her “Never quit” attitude. It was the first step of a lengthy and successful career at Revenue Canada
Mom became the prime example of grace, strength, and sustenance after losing a child at twenty-nine. Her daughter Karen passed in 1992 of cancer, and Mom held a bedside vigil as time for our sister slipped away. In 2022, her daughter Shelley passed with cancer at the age of 59. However, the overwhelming pain, sadness, and grief were kept from Mom as the disease of dementia would not permit her the understanding and acceptance of that death, and now they meet again.
A mother like ours was one of a kind, she was selfless, kind, understanding, loving and giving, her hands were always warm as was her heart, it was true and always full of love to give. Mom was our breath of constant fresh air
Mom leaves an incredible legacy of children who try every day to fulfill a legacy left to them by an earth Angel we call Mom. You will be missed dearly.
Mom is predeceased by her first husband, Anthony Da Silva (22 years), her second husband, Larry (45 years), and her two beloved daughters, Karen Anne and Shelley Jean.
The following are left to endlessly mourn her: Carmelita (Dominic), Vessio, Nicholas Da Silva, Natalie (Gordon) Wright, Arlene Da Silva (Jeff McLeod), and David (Arianne) Da Silva. Her grandchildren are Christopher, Mark, Shaylene, Quintirah, Jason, Jeffrey, Daniel, Lucas, Olivia, Adam, Taylor, and Trevor. Matthew and Jennifer.
Her great-grandchildren; To all she was affectionately known as GG: Odessa, Melia, Charlotte, Mason, Myles Ayrton, Enzo, Evelynn, Ethan, Lillian, Abigail, Tristan,
Cremation to be determined. Mom’s wishes are being fulfilled; she has been welcomed home with the assistance of St Michael’s Parish, Cobourg (Father MacAnthony). We will gather together in her memory for a celebration of her inspirational, wonderful life to be determined in 2024.
If desired, donations can be made to the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society in her memory.
The Day God Took You Home.
A million times we’ve needed you,
A million tears we’ve cried
If love alone could’ve saved you,
You never would have died.
In life we loved you dearly
In death we love you still
It broke our hearts to lose you.
You didn’t go alone,
A part of each of us went with you
The Day God Took You Home.
