Herbert M. Silvia

Herbert M. Silvia, 78, of 111 Locust Avenue, Portsmouth, died Sunday, December 25, 2011 at home. He was the husband of the late Marion Pappas Silvia.Born in Portsmouth, RI on May 9, 1933, he was the son of the late Joseph B. and Mary Perry Silvia.Mr. Silvia was a longtime communicant of St. Barnabas Church. He worked as a foreman for the Portsmouth Highway Department for 22 years, 12 of those years he was assigned to Prudence Island, and retired in 1998. Prior to that he was the caretaker at the ODonnell estate on Indian Avenue. He enjoyed working outdoors, farming the land on Thurstons Dairy Farm and helping on his sons horse farm; and was a member of two antique tractor clubs, the RIATC of Ashaway, RI and the NEATTA of Rehoboth, MA. Most of all he loved his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He leaves his son Herbert M. Skip Silvia Jr. and his wife Sabina, of Portsmouth. He is the grandfather of Jacob J. Silvia of England, Alexander A. Silvia and Andrew J. Silvia both of Portsmouth, and great grandchildren William J. Silvia and Eliana Caroline Silvia. Mr. Silvia was also survived by his sisters Elsie Hopper of Springfield, OR and Edith Ponte of Portsmouth.He was the father of the late Joseph B. Silvia and brother of the late John Silvia, Alfred Silvia and Albert Silvia.Calling hours will be held Wednesday, from 4:00-8:00pm in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth.His funeral will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 10:00am in the Connors Funeral Home. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.Memorial donations may be made to the Portsmouth Rescue Wagon Fund PO Box 806, Portsmouth, RI 02871 or the St. Jude Childrens Hospital 1 St. Jude Place Building, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 300, Memphis, TN 38105.