Antonio "Tony" Hernando Silvano

Tony graduated from the University of the East with a BSBA degree. He has been a member of the PCPA Chicago since 1975 and served as the treasurer from 2011 to 2026. He also was one of the organizers and was the treasurer of the PCPA Bowling League which ran for over 30 years and was the primary source of the scholarship fund till 2021. He has been a delegate to the NCPACA (PCPA’s umbrella organization) convention where he missed less than five conventions since it started in 1986. He was honored as Councilor #72. He was a Selection Committee Evaluator for NCPACA Councilors later.

Tony retired as an audit supervisor at the Illinois Departments of Health and Family Services after twenty years. Per fellow coworker Cecil: “Tony was a hardworking professional, always willing to help others.”

He was the 1987-1988 president of the Filipinos of St. Gregory; an organization of Fil Am parishioners of St. Gregory Church that raises funds for the projects of the parish and celebrate Santacruzan and Simbang Gabi.

Tony Silvano was the Bowling Committee organizer of the Chicago Philippine Independence Week Committee for over 15 years. Together with his wife Susan or Sunny, Tony Co-chaired the PIWC Souvenir Book Program Committee, the PIWC Essay Writing Contest and danced the Rigodon for several years. Tony served the seniors and the needy through his lengthy participation with the not-for-profit PASS in Chicago (Pil Am Social Services). Tony and Sunny believed that a life worth living is a life of sharing and they have been actively supporting the education, housing and medical needs of their relatives and friends during their married life.

Tony was an avid puzzle solver and a Jeopardy fan. For the past 20 years, he and wife Sunny enjoyed traveling during vacations and reunions with the Sigma Delta Gamma Sorority, an accounting honor sorority from UE. Feedback from my Sorority brother Nick: " We will always remember Tony's smiling, happy demeanor especially solving puzzles, and most of all when he's beside you. We are so lucky to know him and be with you on our several sojourn.

As a foodie: he spent time watching TV food network shows, Pinoy or local. His comfort food were arrozcaldo and any veggie dish with okra, fried veggie lumpia and fresh lumpia, hot soups, like “Pho” and tripe from Karekare. He was happiest watching sports TV while munching his pistachios, peanuts and other munchies."

Tony and Sunny were married on Easter Sunday on April 14, 1974, in Olongapo City. Their personalities complimented each other, and every day was a diplomatic day, and in their senior years they admitted they could almost read each other’s feeling or interaction! Among the suitors of the grandchildren of the late Lolo Victoriano Alforque who visited the Olongapo household, Tony was the only one spared by Lolo’s threat of “Itak” and Bisayan curse words, who upon seeing her apo’s visitor with gentle personality, quiet demeanor, scholarly “pogi” looks declared to the family “ Pakainin ang Bisita!” ( translation: Please feed the visitor!). When Tony was enjoying healthy years, he affectionately honored his wife with red roses on birthdays and holidays. The florist Rick who became a friend later, joked one time “ Please buy her a coat!” Although the advice was practical, the memories of red roses arriving were a cherished gesture preferred by his wife, Sunny than a fancy coat!.

In the Silvano Alforque household, music has been a constant presence as a background or as a main hobby, since Tony delighted in singing karaoke with his family and friends. Tony used to sing to his wife Sunny, on the phone during courtship days and personally, during his musical practice or get togethers. Among his favorite songs were:”You Look Wonderful Tonight” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You”. He was the last surviving male member as a Tenor, of the Himig Pag-Ibig Choir , a Chicago church choir for 30 years. He supported fully Sunny’s artistic pursuits as her personal domestic critic. He shared his talent in designing and producing printed matters most of the time, complimentary: programs, business cards, missalettes, souvenir programs.

Tony was frugal and a master of patience and was gifted with a measured approach to problems and daily challenges. One day, a long time ago, Cousin Henry declared that he admired his In-law Tony because he managed to co-exist peacefully with least friction with 4 women in his Ashland residence: his wife, his late mother-in-law, Claudia and 2 sisters in law.

Tony was brave and had an amazing fighting heart. During the last year of his life, he survived all tests, procedures and treatments with dignity and grace until the end.

He was the eldest child of the late Julian Edralin Silvano and Juliana Roda Hernando of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sunny, sisters in law Remy and Coring, brother Ian and wife Florie, apo Paoline Mae and loving cousins, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, godchildren and devoted friends.

The wake will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, and Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL.

Final viewing and prayers will take place on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM at the same location. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 AM at St. Gregory the Great Church, 5545 N. Paulina St., Chicago, IL, with interment afterward at Rosehill Cemetery.