Carlota Rosa Silva

Carlota Rosa Silva, age 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in her son's home in San Diego, California. She was born on July 17, 1935 in the village of São Roque on the island of Pico, Açores in Portugal to parents Cristiano Garcia da Rosa and Rosa Mesquita.

Carlota, the youngest of six children - three boys and three girls - spent her childhood learning how to become a homemaker with her mother and sisters, while her father and brothers hunted whale for a living. She only had the opportunity to attend school until what would be the equivalent of the fifth grade in the United States.

In 1954, José Vitorino Silva, whose family lived just a few towns away in Santo Amaro, began courting Carlota. They came to know each other as their siblings, Cristiano Garcia DaRosa and Evelina Silva, began courting and later married. José and Carlota were married a year later, on February 7, 1955, and moved to Praia da Vitória, Terceira, where José was working in carpentry for the American Military. Their only son, Joseph Albert, was born on January 5, 1958.

José, Carlota and their son immigrated to San Diego in 1959 to seek better opportunities and be closer to their families who had begun immigrating as well. They established roots in the community of Point Loma and would live there the rest of their lives. While José worked during the day at Campbell Industries designing tuna fishing vessels, Carlota worked as a seamstress for Ratner's manufacturing mens suits and attended night school as she worked toward obtaining her high school diploma. In 1967, she graduated, and she and José bought their first and forever home.

Carlota was very passionate about her local Portuguese community in San Diego, as well as an active participant in Portuguese communities throughout California. She was one of the founding members of Aliança Açoreana, Fraternal Director and member of the U.P.E.C. Council #69 and member of the Portuguese-American League of San Diego, having created their league banner in 1989, as well as the Portuguese-American Social and Civic Club and the Cabrillo Civic Club #16. She was an active volunteer of the United Portuguese S.E.S. Hall. She took great pride in her Portuguese heritage and preserving it for her son and grandchildren.

Carlota was most well known by the community for the exquisite capes and dresses she crafted for the Festa do Espírito Santo and Festa da Santíssima Trinidade in San Diego. She would explain that she enjoyed giving of herself in this way in the name of the Holy Spirit. Her talent and sacrifice is something that won't be soon forgotten. She was also an avid crocheter and knitter. Most days, she could be found at her kitchen table fashioning baby outfits, slippers or household items for her family and friends.

Above all else, Carlota's greatest joy was found in her family. After she started experiencing health issues, she became a homemaker and was able to spend more time with her family. She selflessly took care of her mother in the latter part of her life. She treasured her four grandchildren and two great granddaughters more than life itself, and was always so adamant about caring for them while their parents worked. She looked forward to spending summers in Açores with José and their grandchildren, so proudly introducing them to the life they lived before coming to America.

Carlota is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her granddaughter Jocelyn Silva, her brothers Manuel Cristiano da Rosa (Auria da Rosa), Alfredo Garcia Mesquita (Rosalinda Mesquita) and Cristiano Garcia DaRosa, her sister Maria da Saúde do Nascimento (Manuel Jorge do Nascimento) and her brother-in-law Manuel Bertão Fagundes. She is survived by her son Joseph Albert Silva (Dina Silva), grandchildren Jennifer Silva-Reis (John Reis), Joseph Albert Silva, Jr. and Justin Silva, her great-granddaughters Gwendolyn Reis and Olivia Reis, her sister Lucilda Fagundes, her sister-in-law Evelina DaRosa, and many other beloved.

Carlota's memorial services will take place on Friday, June 10, 2022 at Saint Agnes Catholic Church, 1140 Evergreen Street, San Diego, with rosary at 9:30am and Mass immediately following. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Holy Cross Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Drive, San Diego.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.beardsleymitchell.com for the Silva family.