Jose Freitas Silva Obituary
With great sadness, the family wishes to announce the passing of Jose Freitas Silva on Friday, February 24, 2017 at St. Boniface Hospital Palliative Care unit.
Jose will be forever remembered and loved by his wife Bernice; son Frank (Eileen); daughter Lucia (Thomas); stepchildren Marc (Crystal) Rose, Bob Rose and Bev Blue; grandchildren Jessica, Brittany and Jacqueline; great grandchildren Mateus and Isaak; eleven step grandchildren; eight step great grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews, along with many friends. As well in Portugal he leaves behind his sister Maria (Joao) Teixeira; niece Ana and nephew Jose along with two great nieces and one great nephew. He was predeceased by his son, Jose A. in 2015 and his parents.
On July 9, 1936 Jose was born in Faja Grande Flores, Azores, Portugal. He began his working life in 1955 as a fisherman (whales, fish and tuna). He then spent two years in the Portuguese Armed Forces – Air Force division and returned to fishing until he immigrated to Canada on April 20, 1960. Jose held many different jobs in Canada beginning on a farm, CNR, working on the Grand Rapids dam, truck driver, 17 years at Borger (five as a cement finisher and 12 as a foreman), then back to CNR after training to be a machine operator in 1983 until his retirement from paid work in 1998. He was a hard worker who continued to fix up the family home and helped out many friends and relatives until his illness prevented him from doing so.
On Saturday, March 4, 2017 Jose’s Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel, 1020 Main Street @ Manitoba Avenue. Interment will be held in his hometown in Portugal at a later date.
The family would like to thank all the visitors that took the time to visit Jose each time he was hospitalized. Mere words cannot express the heartfelt thanks and immense gratitude for the all help and support received from Marge and Dean throughout his illness.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to cancer research or the charity of your choice.
Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 1020 Main Street, 204.586.8668