Eletha Silveira Sillanpaa was born in Overton, Nebraska on September 30, 1922 to Luie and Effie Christopher. She passed away January 23, 2013 in Fresno, California. Eletha came to California with her parents, five siblings, and the family dog, Fido, arriving in Dos Palos in February, 1930. In 1936, her family moved to Mendota. Eletha graduated from Tranquillity High School in 1941.
She attended nursing school in Santa Barbara until the war interrupted her plans and her new husband, Louis, was drafted.
She discovered she was expecting and moved to Mendota to live with her parents where her first child, Darrell, was born.
When her husband, Louis, returned, they moved to a home in Mendota and then to Tranquillity after her second child, Dudley,
was born. Her third child, Debra, was born in Tranquillity four years later and they were thrilled with the arrival of their little girl.
After Louis' passing in 1979, Eletha moved to Fresno to be near her family. She was a widow for ten years before marrying her second husband, Edwin, who was also a widower and had been previously married to Louis' sister, Mary.
Eletha is survived by her three children, Darrell Silveira of Friant, Dudley Silveira and his wife Charlotte of Fresno, and Debra Franks and her husband Matt of Fresno; her three grandchildren, Rick Silveira Blanchard and his wife Allison of Madera, Gena Silveira of Fresno, and Jessica Mitts and her husband William of Laguna Niguel; her six great-grandchildren, Courtney Kimura, Garrett Burton Silveira Blanchard, Lindsy Wolfe, Madison Mitts, Gerald Wolfe, and Jacob Mitts; her siblings, Helen Mason, Luie Christopher, and Ruthe Carvalho; and numerous nieces and nephews. Eletha was preceded in death by her devoted husbands, Louis Silveira and Edwin Sillanpaa; her parents; and her siblings, Evelyn Vokens, Ralph Christopher, and Dorothy Viau. Eletha loved working in her garden, never missed a family event, and was always optimistic in any situation. She hadn't eaten a meal during a family event at her home in years, because she was always doting on others and making sure they had everything they needed. A devoted wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, there was nothing she wouldn't do for those she loved and when she wasn't spending time with her family, she was writing them letters covered in heart stickers. Her always present smile, effervescent personality, and boundless energy will be missed by many.
A visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home, on January 30, 2013 from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Services will be held at Lisle Funeral Home in Fresno, on January 31, 2013 at 10:00 am. Interment at St. Peters Cemetery. Eletha requested that donations be sent to the Called to Prayer Ministries, P.O. Box 31, Tranquillity, CA 93668.
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