Maria Helena Silva (Helena) passed away on Saturday August 29th, 2020 at her home in Salem, Mass at the age of 72. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, sisters and loved ones.

She was born on November 15th, 1947 in Praia Sao Mateus, Graciosa, where she and her husband returned to vacation at their home as often as they could. They loved working on their house and their gardens as well as attending as many Portuguese Festivals as they could while there.

She was a loving wife to her late husband Jose, they were married on January 26th, 1967 and started their family. They immigrated to America in January of 1975 where they bought their house in Salem and completed their little family of 5 children!

Our Mom loved crocheting, she made beautiful blankets for her grandchildren and baby blankets for all the new babies in the family as well as beautiful runners and table clothes. She was an avid reader, she would read for hours on end, it was her get away! She also loved her Techlareco ( AKA her Tablet) she loved her Coloring Book app as well as her Solitaire app. But most of all she loved her family, she loved sitting with all of us and talking & laughing at silly jokes around the dinner table on Friday & Sunday nights! Her other love was for The Portuguese Band, she may not have been a musician but she was the wife and mother of 6 musicians and she made sure that we all looked our best in our uniforms! She attended every Festival with us near or far, rain or shine that was our Mom!

Helena is survived by: her five children Maria Da Luz Machado and husband Jose, Maria Jose Matthews and husband John, John Silva and his wife Evelina, Michael Silva and his wife Sarah, Christina DaSilva and her husband Pedro; her 10 grandchildren Ryan, Catherine & Natalia Machado, James Matthews , Arianna, Javion & Jayden Silva, Andrew & Allison Silva, Nicholas DaSilva; her Siblings & their spouses  Joao Sale, Magarida Abreu, Maria Joao Hammond, and Maria Jose Sale; as well as her loving In-law family Manuel DaSilva, Antonina Ramos, Carlos DaSilva, and their spouses; and she also had many loving nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her loving husband Jose F. Silva and her loving brother Manuel Sale

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday September 3, 2020 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Murphy Funeral Home, located at 85 Federal St. Salem. Burial will be following the visiting hours beginning at 2:30 PM at St Mary's Cemetery, 226 North St. Salem. Those in attendance of the services, please make sure to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing guidelines. If you feel ill or have a fever, please refrain from attending the services. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Fund. For more information or online guestbook, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com or call 978-744-0497.