Jose Silveira Sanches, resident of Santa Clara, died peacefully on October 9th, 2021. He was born in Rosais, Sao Jorge, Azores, the fifth of nine children. At the age of nineteen he immigrated to California to pursue the American Dream. For the next several years, he worked on the family ranch in Newman, CA, and was a dairy farmer.
Before he left the Azores, he asked his future father-in-law for permission to marry his oldest daughter and promised to marry her after he received his U.S. citizenship. After almost seven years, he fulfilled his promise and married the love of his life, his sweetheart Maria Vitoria Gonsalves. They moved to Santa Clara in 1956 to begin their married life and raise their family. Jose always focused on providing for his family and in the early years he held a variety of jobs to accomplish his goals. He eventually began working at the Santa Clara Unified School District and proudly worked there for 28 years until his retirement.
Jose loved travel, the outdoors, and working in his garden. In true Portuguese fashion, he could grow an incredible amount of delicious fruits and vegetables in small garden beds. Within the extended family he was well known for his annual crop of sweet and juicy navel oranges.
Jose was most content when he was with his children and grandchildren. Nothing made him happier than being with them.
He is preceded in death by Vitoria, his wife of 50 years; his siblings Mary, Vital, John, Jorge, Fatima, and Ana Maria. He is survived by his children Fatima (John) Blumenson, Jose (Jean) Sanches, and Vickie (Warren) Hoy; his grandchildren Stephanie (James) Hollabaugh, Carolyn Blumenson, Samantha (Brad) Groce, and Gene (Sarah) Sanches; and his brothers Alberto and Manuel, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Monday, November 1st, at 5:00pm followed by a Rosary at 7:00pm at Lima Family, 466 Winchester Blvd., Santa Clara. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, November 2nd, at 11:00 am at St. Clare Church, 941 Lexington St., Santa Clara, followed by the Committal Service at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Carmelite Monastery, Attn: Reverend Mother, 1000 Lincoln St., Santa Clara, CA 95050 are kindly appreciated.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18