Manuel Felipe Silveira

Manuel Silveira, known as Felipe to many, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on October 25, 2021, at the age of 71. He was born in Sao Jorge, Azores to Jose and Conceicao da Silveira on November 14, 1949. He was the youngest of 6 siblings.

Felipe served in the Portuguese army. He fought in the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence in the early 1970s. After the war, he went on to marry the love of his life Fatima in the Azores before moving to the United States in 1975. During his life in the United States, he had worked on a dairy farm, an apple juicing company, a wood pallet maker, and then finally owned a small landscaping business.

Outside of work, he was an active member in the I.S.T.W. Portuguese community in Watsonville, where he served as President three times. He enjoyed playing soccer with local teams. As he got older, he turned his passion for playing soccer to becoming a referee for the soccer games. If he wasn't playing soccer, he watched his favorite Portuguese soccer team Benfica on the television. Aside from working, volunteering, and soccer, his family was always his core. He would never miss any milestone events in his children's or grandchildren's lives. To him, his children and grandchildren were his everything. Until the very end, his grandchildren would always put a smile on his face.

Felipe is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Fatima Silveira, his son Nelso (Amy) Silveira, daughter Marlene (Alex) Kolman, and his beloved grandchildren, Julia and Joshua Silveira, and Dominic and Maverick Kolman. He also leaves behind many sisters, a brother, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Felipe was preceded in death by parents Jose and Conceicao da Silveira and his newborn sibling.

Viewing will be held at Mehl's Colonial Chapel on Nov. 8, 2021, from 5pm-9pm with rosary starting at 7pm. Funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Help of Christians (Valley Church) on Nov. 9, 2021, at 10am with burial to follow at Valley Public Cemetery.