Maria Silvina Silveira

On the evening of August 23, 2026, after a lifetime spent pointing herself and everyone she loved toward Heaven, Maria Silvina Silveira went home to the love of her life, Jesus.

We say those words with deep faith, but not without heartbreak.

No amount of time with Maria could ever have been enough. We would selfishly have asked God for another day, another year, another decade. Yet the woman who spent her earthly life preparing for eternal life taught us that this world was never meant to be our final home. As broken as we are that she had to go without us, we cannot wish her back from the freedom and peace for which she spent her life longing.

Maria was born on June 12, 1931, in Espalhafatos, on the island of Faial in the Azores archipelago of Portugal, to José Augusto da Terra and Senhorinha Eduina Escobar.

Her father died when Maria was only seven, leaving her mother widowed with six small children. The family lived in great poverty, and Maria had little opportunity for schooling; while still a child herself, she went to work as a servant in another family's home to help her own survive. She learned sacrifice very young.

On January 11, 1947, at only fifteen years old, Maria married José Silveira.

Their first child, Maria de Fátima, was born in 1948, and died only three months later. Their son, José Carlos Silveira, was born on May 13, 1951, their daughters, Maria da Conceição and Maria Eduina, followed.

In 1966, fearing that her son would be drafted to military service, Maria made one of the most painful decisions of her life. Maria, José and their children left Portugal hurriedly with only what they could carry in their luggage and began a new life in Canada without knowing English—first in Saskatoon, briefly in Vancouver, and then back in Saskatoon.

She loved Faial and her homeland and the separation from her mother caused a sadness and homesickness that never fully left her. Even decades later, Maria continued to miss her deeply.

Her first Canadian job was in a tailor shop on Broadway Avenue, followed by work in sewing factories including Waldman & Paul and Active Wear, as well as cleaning jobs and seamstress work from home.

Maria was an exceptionally gifted seamstress and a perfectionist. She made beautiful matching clothing for her daughters and later made dresses for her granddaughters as well.

She quickly became a supervisor at work due to her talent and hard work, and remembering what it was like to arrive in a new country, willingly trained newly arrived immigrants whom other supervisors were reluctant to take on. Workers from around the world found in Maria someone patient enough to teach them and help them find their footing.

The little girl denied an education worked to provide university education for her daughters, sent financial support home to her mother, and quietly helped relatives and families in need—never wanting recognition for what she did.

Maria eventually retired early so her daughters could work while she cared for the grandchildren.

Sundays were for God and family—Mass, visits and a table full of food. Her arroz doce, Portuguese rice pudding, was never rushed; she stood over it until it was exactly right, then proudly carried it to family and community celebrations.

Her hands created and worked much; held babies and cared for grandchildren, grew her own incredible garden and majestic lawn, moved Rosary beads one prayer at a time and created beautiful cloths for Altars and Tabernacles at St. Mary's and parishes back in Portugal.

And those hands did much of it while suffering from painful arthritis. Maria hurt, but she kept using those same hurting hands to serve. Perhaps that is one of the simplest ways to understand her life: she continually gave pieces of herself away.

Maria loved her family fiercely. But make no mistake: Maria loved God above all.

Jesus Christ was not simply someone Maria believed existed. She knew Him, her Saviour, her strength through suffering and her companion through life.

Because eternal life was real to Maria, she was not afraid to tell someone she loved when she believed they were moving away from God. Her measure of success was faithfulness, and her greatest hope for those she loved was Heaven rather than earthly comfort. Among Maria's deepest devotions was Our Lady of Fátima. She spoke of the Sanctuary of Fátima as the place where Heaven touched earth.

Almost forty years ago, Maria made a private promise to God. In fulfilling it, she travelled to the Sanctuary of Fátima and purchased a replica of the original statue of Our Lady of Fátima venerated in the Chapel of the Apparitions.

She brought that statue to Canada and donated it to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Parish.

Maria could never have known how far that act of faith would reach. For nearly four decades, Rosaries, tears, petitions and thanksgivings have been offered before that statue, and generations have learned the story of Fátima through the devotion she helped plant.

Each May, that same statue returns to the streets of Saskatoon in the diocesan procession honouring Our Lady of Fátima. And in a beautiful way, a piece of Maria will always remain in those Fátima feasts as her legacy continues.

Maria walked to Mass every day, before having to move into a care home. St. Mary's is woven into Maria's story, and Maria is woven into St. Mary's.

She raised family within its walls, volunteered, cleaned, belonged to the Catholic Women's League, and gave of herself.

In her final years, dementia gradually took many memories from Maria and, in a strange mercy, also spared her the knowledge of the death of her son José Carlos in 2017 and the last three of her siblings. Dementia could obscure memory; it could not undo a lifetime.

Maria's final four weeks were spent in the Palliative Care Unit at St. Paul's Hospital.

Even her room felt like a gift: large enough for family to remain with her day and night. From its window we could see our St. Mary's Parish. For our family, that room became holy ground.

Priests held a very special place in Maria's heart. She prayed for them, loved them, cared for them, worried about them, and tried to look after them whenever she could. Over the years, many became more than clergy; they became family.

When the time came for Maria herself to be carried spiritually, that love was returned to her in a way our family will never forget.

During those four weeks, Maria received over twenty priest visits, as well as visits from deacons, lay ministers and Spiritual Care. Just hours before her passing, Bishop Jon Hansen came to her bedside to anoint her and pray with our family. We cannot help but believe that, in some mysterious way, Maria had been waiting for him.

Among those who prayed, anointed, blessed, consoled and accompanied Maria and our family were Fr. Kevin McGee, Pastor of St. Mary's; Fr. Isaac Mensah, Associate Pastor; Fr. Benedict Arrakal, Hospital Chaplain; Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando; Fr. Bassim Shoni; Fr. Ivan Nahachewsky; Fr. David Louh; and many others. Deacon Nicholas Blom also faithfully came to her bedside.

Priests from throughout the Diocese of Saskatoon and around the world also prayed for Maria, contacted our family and celebrated Holy Mass for her.

She was repeatedly anointed, received the Apostolic Pardon, and was surrounded by special prayers, blessings, countless Rosaries and Divine Mercy Chaplets.

And among the greatest gifts of those weeks was the Holy Eucharist.

For years, Maria had walked to St. Mary's to receive Jesus at Mass. Now she could no longer make that walk herself. And so Jesus came to her.

On one of his visits, Fr. Benedict came to anoint Maria, who by then was largely unresponsive. During that visit, it was shared how deeply it hurt to think that Avó might never again receive Holy Communion. He gently offered to try.

When the Eucharist was placed on her tongue, Maria received Him and consumed the Host.

Then, in a moment our family will never forget, Maria stirred, opened her eyes and said: “Amen.”

That would become the last word Maria ever spoke.

After a lifetime of walking to Mass to receive Jesus, the Eucharistic Lord had come to her bedside. God was there.

On the evening of August 23, family was once again gathered around Maria, as they had so often been during those four weeks, and we prayed the Rosary.

“Treze de Maio” was playing—the beloved Portuguese hymn honouring Our Lady of Fátima, and the hymn Maria had sung as a lullaby to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“I love you” was being whispered in her ear while she was being held close, when God called her home and Maria quietly took her final breath.

Her passing was a Holy Death. Maria died as she had lived—surrounded by family, prayer, the Rosary, Our Lady, the Church and Jesus.

Our tears do not contradict our faith—they are the price of love.

Maria was predeceased by her husband, José Silveira, in 1992; her infant daughter, Maria de Fátima; her son, José Carlos Silveira; her parents, José Augusto da Terra and Senhorinha Eduina Escobar; and her siblings, Jorge Terra, who died in infancy in 1937 Manuel da Terra (1998); José Augusto da Terra (2007); Maria Laura Melo (2022); Maria Olimpia de Sá (2023); and Antonio da Terra (2024), along with many other loved ones.

With Maria's passing, the last of her siblings and the final pillar of that generation is gone. As we pray for Maria, we also pray for the souls of our extended family, including our beloved aunts, uncles and all those who went before us.

Maria leaves behind her daughters, Maria da Conceição Zalesak (Emil) and Maria Eduina Nunes; her grandchildren, Jennifer Nunes (Nelson), Jessica Nunes-Oudrhiri (Younes), Nicole Zalesak, Alberto Nunes and Darien Silveira; her great-grandchildren, Christopher, James, Alexander and Nicholas; and an extended family she loved, friends and faith community forever changed by her life and example.

For some she was Mãe. For others Avó, Avó Silvina, Grandma or Avózinha. Whatever name they called her, she was a pillar of the family.

With Gratitude

Maria's family extends its profound gratitude to the physicians, nurses and entire staff of the Palliative Care Unit at St. Paul's Hospital.

During the most difficult month of our lives, their gentleness, compassion and honesty made the unbearable more bearable. They cared for Maria with extraordinary tenderness and dignity, often as though she were their own grandmother. They answered our questions, listened to our fears, supported us when we were exhausted and grieving, and respected our need to remain constantly beside her.

We are also deeply grateful to all those who cared for Maria during the years before her final hospitalization, including the staff at Parkridge Centre, Luther Care Home, Sherbrooke Community Centre and Samaritan Place. To every person who treated her with dignity, patience, gentleness and affection over those years, please know that our family remembers the care you gave her.

Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to Bishop Jon Hansen, the priests, deacons, lay ministers and Spiritual Care staff who accompanied Maria and our family in prayer.

And to our family and friends who spent so many hours with us at St. Paul's—and who have continued to surround us with prayer, presence, messages, meals, kindness and love since Grandma's passing—thank you. You helped carry us through days we did not know how to carry ourselves.

Funeral Rites

Everyone is warmly invited to come and pray with Maria's family as we entrust her soul to God.

Prayer Vigil and Viewing: Friday, August 28, 2026 7:00 p.m.

Holy Rosary: Saturday, August 29, 2026 10:30 a.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, August 29, 2026 11:00 a.m.

All services will be celebrated at:

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Parish 211 Avenue O South Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, and everyone is warmly invited to accompany Maria and her family to her final resting place for the Rite of Committal.

In accordance with Maria's own wishes, there will be no public reception following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, Maria's family asks first and foremost for prayer.

Mass intentions for the repose of Maria Silvina Silveira would be deeply cherished. There will be an opportunity at the funeral to arrange for Holy Masses to be offered for her soul.

Those wishing to make a monetary memorial donation are invited to support St. Mary's Mission and Outreach Ministry, which serves with love the most vulnerable members of our community.

Donations may be made online at:

www.stmarysoutreach.com/donate

or by cheque to:

St. Mary's Parish Outreach 211 Avenue O South Saskatoon, SK S7M 2R6

The most precious inheritance Maria leaves us cannot be divided.

It is faith.

Her greatest gift was that she spent her life pointing us toward Jesus.

And now comes the part we do not know how to do: living in a world where Avó is no longer physically with us.

Faith does not make us stop wanting her back. It tells us only that goodbye is not forever.

Through our tears, we entrust Maria to the mercy of the God she trusted all her life. We pray that Jesus—the love of her life—has received her, and that one day, by the mercy of God, we will follow her home.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.