NAUGATUCK — Manuel R. daSilva, 68, husband of Laura (Miranda) daSilva, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 at the VITAS unit of St. Mary’s Hospital.
Mr. daSilva was born in Murtosa, Portugal on March 14, 1946, son of the late Agostinho and Elvira (Rebimbas) daSilva. Formerly of Naugatuck and Southbury, he retired from Manifort Brothers Construction after many years of service. He was a member of Local 611, and the Portuguese American Suncoast Association. Manuel had served in the Portuguese military while living in Portugal. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone, and he enjoyed fishing, spending time with his neighbors and loved ones, especially his grandchildren.
Besides his wife Laura of 41 years, he leaves his children, Melinda Lucke and her husband, Paul, John daSilva and his wife, Dawn, and Laura “Liz” DiTillo and her husband, Raymond; his grandchildren, Autumn and Kali Lucke, and Lea and Logan daSilva; his siblings, Amalia Reis and her husband, Jose, Elvira Rebelo and her husband, Antonio, Antonio daSilva and his wife, Maria Fatima, Agostinho daSilva and his wife, Cynthia, Augusto daSilva and his wife, Joana, Gloria Oliveira and her husband, Servio, and Jose daSilva and his wife, Catarina; aunts Benedita Oliveira and Olympia Ruela; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family wishes to thank the Smilow Cancer Center 12th Floor Staff and the VITAS unit at St. Mary’s Hospital for the special care given to Manuel.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church St., Naugatuck. Friends are asked to please meet at the church at 10:45 a.m. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. The Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck, is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Jude’s Place Memphis, TN 38105.
To send an online condolence, visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
