Evelyn M. Silvia, 89, died Sunday at Windemere Nursing Home where she was a long-time resident.

She was the wife of the late Adrian F. Silvia. She was born in Tisbury on the Fourth of July, one of 14 children.

Evelyn lived her whole life on the Island. She attended Tisbury High School, where she graduated in the class of 1936. She worked for New England Telephone Co. from 1940 to 1946.

At age 19, Evelyn met Adrian at a dance at the Red Men's Hall on Main street in Tisbury. They married at her parent's Franklin street home on Oct. 19, 1943 while Adrian was on a three-day furlough from the Army.

Evelyn loved entertaining and visiting friends and relatives. She loved to go out to dance at social gatherings with friends and relatives. Evelyn would frequently be seen on the dance floor doing the jitterbug with Adrian.

Evelyn was famous for her cooking. Her specialty was her Thanksgiving dinners and her delicious Portuguese kale soup.

Evelyn was a communicant of St. Augustine's Church where she was a member of the church guild, Grace of God Prayer Group and an eucharistic minister. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

She was a devoted wife and loving mother to her family. She enjoyed her life as a homemaker and in her lifetime overcame many obstacles that impeded her path to survive. Cancer was an early opponent and with her strong Christian faith she conquered the disease.

In Evelyn's later years she was an inspiration to others. She was stoic and rarely complained even though in constant pain, but she refused to give up the fight until she could see her only and beloved granddaughter blossom into a young woman.

Survivors include her daughter Eileen and her husband William Threm of Tucson, Ariz.; her son Rodney Silvia and his wife Karen of Oak Bluffs; her granddaughter Kelly; two sisters, Anna Medeiros of Edgartown and Florence Lavallee of Falmouth; and many nieces and nephews.

Her Mass of Christian burial is set for 11 a.m. today in St. Augustine's Church, Franklin street, Vineyard Haven.

Donations may be made in her memory to Good Shepard Parish of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 1058, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or Windemere Nursing Home, P.O. Box 1747, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, or Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.