Irene Frances Silvas Richardson

RICHARDSON IRENE FRANCES SILVAS Irene was born August 4, 1952, at Chula Vista Community Hospital, died at her home in Alpine, Calif., January 30, 2003. She was a 9th generation descendent of a leather-jacketed Spanish soldier who, in 1776, entered California and helped build and protect the first settlements of many early California communities. Through her ancestral birthright, Irene was a proud tribal member of the Juaneno Band of San Luis Capistrano Mission Indians. Irene ' s schooling progressed from Imperial Beach ' s Central Elementary School to Montgomery Elementary in Chula Vista, to Castle Park Jr. High and then Castle Park High School, where she graduated in 1970. After graduation, she began a 15-year career with Pacific Telephone in San Diego, as a long distance operator. She was transferred to San Francisco in 1979, and held a marketing management position when, in 1981, she and Royce Richardson of San Diego, were married in Kauai, Hawaii. In 1985, she and her husband left Pacific Bell and traveled extensively through Europe before moving to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, near Truckee, Calif., where they lived for five years. In 1989, after attending the University of Nevada at Reno for two years, she and her husband returned to San Diego, where in 1992, she graduated from San Diego State University with an Accounting Degree. After graduation she held a managing auditors position with the U.S. Customs Service in San Diego until 1995, when she left Customs due to illness. Irene enjoyed many pastimes which included traveling, golfing, skiing, researching family history, gardening and cooking. But her passion was community service. She was a volunteer for the San Diego Adult Literacy Program, served as a volunteer for Scripps Hospital - East, was Secretary for the first Board of Directors Council of San Diego County ' s St. Vincent de Paul Society, served as Secretary of El Cajon St. Kieran ' s Church Parish Council, was President of St. Kieran ' s Church St. Vincent de Paul Society, a member of St. Kieran ' s Charismatic Prayer Group and a life member of Los Californianos Society. She leaves her husband, Royce Richardson, three step-children and families, David and Karen Richardson Crawford of Point Loma, Gerald and Catherine Richardson Beckman of Lake Arrowhead, and Darrell Richardson and wife, Lynn, of Ocean Beach; six step-grandchildren; mother, Maria Valdez Silvas of Chula Vista; sister Maggie Silvas Macias and husband Amado, of Ramona; five brothers and families: Dr. Michael Silvas and wife Yoli, of Encinitas, Robert Silvas and wife Pat, of Chula Vista, Lawrence Silvas of Studio City, Abel Silvas of Pacific Beach, Paul Silvas of Verdi, Nevada; her beloved Goddaughter, Sonia Silvas of Goleta, Calif.; twelve nieces and nephews and numerous much loved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Services will be at St. Kieran ' s Catholic Church 1510 Greenfield St., El Cajon. The Visitation will be Sunday, February 2, 4-5:30 p.m., Vigil at 5:30 p.m. with the Rosary at 6 p.m. Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations and support to the San Diego Hospice Program and St Kieran ' s St. Vincent de Paul Society.