Obituary of Josephine Onaphia DaSilva

Josephine Onaphia DaSilva, loving mother of 17 children, died at home Sunday, August 2, 2009 at the age of 94. She was a long time resident of Whitehouse Station, NJ.Born in New Brunswick, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Carmen and Carmella Allegro.She had resided in Newark before coming to Whitehouse Station 50 years ago.Josephine had owned Silva's Grocery Store in Newark in the 1940's but then devoted her life to raising her 17 children and tending to her small farm. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Whitehouse Station.She was predeceased by her husband, Adao Antonio DaSilva in 1986, her two sons, Joseph and Alipio, and her daughter, Theresa.Josephine is survived by her sons, Anthony, Richard, Donald, Victor, Carmen and Michael DaSilva and her daughters, Eva Rella, Dolores Fresolone, Marie Fasciano, Joann Bittman, Lucille Maehr, Rosalie Ward, Marguerite Andres and Linda DiAlfonso. She is also survived by 41 grandchildren and over 50 great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 10:00 am at Our Lady Of Lourdes Church, 390 Rt. 523, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889. Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Kearns Funeral Home, Ltd., 103 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse, NJ 08888.Burial will be at St. Bernard's Cemetery, 551 Rt. 28, Bridgewater, NJ.For those planning an expression of sympathy, kindly make donations to the Whitehouse Rescue Squad, PO Box 175, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0175For more information or to send condolences please visit www.kearnsfuneralhome.com