Lydia R. Silva, 86, Was Vineyard Haven Native

Lydia (Rogers) Silva, 86, died Saturday, June 5, at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford after a brief illness.

Lydia, the daughter of Frank and Maria Rogers, was born on Look street in Vineyard Haven on Dec. 20, 1917. She was a graduate of the Tisbury School.

In 1942 she left the Vineyard with her sister for a job opportunity in Connecticut. She eventually settled near New Haven, Conn., with her husband, Antone (Mack) Silva of Edgartown, and lived there for close to 60 years.

In her early years in Connecticut, Lydia received training at Yale University for a position at Nationwide Insurance where she was a manager in the bookkeeping division, statistical department and was honored as employee of the month. In her spare time, Lydia loved to play tennis and golf and enjoyed watching sports on television. After her beloved husband's death three years ago, Lydia moved to Dartmouth to be closer to her sisters, Olga and Gloria.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her sisters Mary and Alice, and her brothers William, Manuel, Frank and in January, her brother John. She is survived by three sisters, Olga Panagakos of Acushnet, Gloria Cory of Dartmouth and Eleanor Luce of West Tisbury, and a brother, George Rogers of Vineyard Haven.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Augustine's Church, Vineyard Haven on Wednesday, June 9 at 11 a.m. followed by interment at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. Visiting hours will be held in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8. Donations may be made in her memory to a charity of one's choice.