Helen Annette Silva

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our mom, Helen Silva. Helen passed away on June 25, 2025, in Walnut Creek, California. She was 86 years old.

Helen is the daughter of the late Louis “Pete” Elmore Peterson and Josephine Johanna-Marie Peterson (Jensen). In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her eldest son, Mark William.

Helen is survived by her children Sherry Gubera (Rich), Steven Silva (June) and Scott Silva. Helen was the beloved grandma to Stefanie Gubera (Krystal), Travis Silva (Alyson), Tyler Silva (Kaiti), Matthew Gubera, Andrew Gubera, Tanner Silva (Taylor) and Kameryn Gubera. She was also blessed with seven great grandchildren and many cousins and nephews.

Born on April 2, 1939, in Vermillion, South Dakota, Helen moved to the Bay Area in 1943. Later, Helen’s family moved to Fremont (Centerville), California in 1951. It was at Centerville Grade School in the 7th Grade that she met Bill Silva and they began their 76-year friendship and later, marriage on January 31,1960 at Holy Spirit Church in Fremont.

Helen and Bill were married for 65 years and spent time travelling to Hawaii, Portugal and Norway. They took many cruises to places like St. Petersburg, Russia and Alaska and took their RV on many trips in the U.S. They had friends from their Square Dance Club, RV Club, Daughters of Norway and kept in touch with their high school classmates from Washington Union High School where Helen graduated in 1957.

Helen was a talented seamstress and often was the designer for the Square Dance Club’s annual costume. Bill recruited her to design all the decorations for each of their high school reunions. Helen loved painting. She was a gifted watercolor, oil and rosemaling artist (Scandinavian folk painting).

Helen was strong in her faith and she and Bill were parishioners of Holy Spirit Church for 32 years and St. Michael Church in Livermore for 26 years.

Helen will be deeply missed, but it is with great sense of comfort knowing that she is with our Heavenly Father and in the company of many family members.

The Silva family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful community at Byron Park, Walnut Creek, who made our mother feel like family and the gracious caregivers of Twenty First Care Services who provided compassionate care over the short final few months of our mother’s life.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 7, 2025. Viewing at 10:00AM. Rosary at 10:30AM and Funeral Mass at 11:00AM at St. Isidore Church, 440 La Gonda Way, Danville, California 94526. Reception to follow.