Viola Ann Silva was the youngest of four children born to Mary and Anthony Mendonca, Jr., December 3, 1935, in Merced, California. She passed away February 25, 2023, in Fresno, California. Viola was raised in a Portuguese household in Hughson, California. She was always proud of her Portuguese heritage. In April of 1957 she met Bob Silva on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. After a four-month courtship, they were married in Modesto. Bob was a golf professional and his job took them to Tracy, California, the Bay Area and ultimately to Fresno, where they raised their family of two sons, Bradley and Douglas, and a daughter, Kimberly. A third son, Steven, died shortly after childbirth.

Above all else, Viola was a caring, loving and nurturing wife and mother. She enjoyed cooking her family's favorite meals and traveling. Bob's profession took them to Las Vegas and Hawaii on several occasions, as well as the Bahamas and Spain. She had fond memories of those trips. Viola also volunteered for March of Dimes and in the St. Anthony's School Library.

Viola was the last of the surviving Mendonca siblings, their parents having predeceased them. She is survived by her husband, Bob Silva, and their three children, Bradley (wife Lenora), Douglas (wife Kelly), and Kimberly, now named Alivia Harmon, as well as eight grandchildren, Andrea Silva, M.D., Jessica Silva, DMD, (husband Dustin), Steven Silva, Connor Mathias, Cooper Mathias, Daniel Silva, John Silva and Cheyanne Harmon, and five great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Ember-Lynn, Keaton, Cory and Riley.

Her smile and gentle demeanor are greatly missed.

Remembrances may be made in Viola's name to the donor's favorite charity.