Joe Ilido Silva

Jose Ilido Silva of Los Banos, California, was born in 1942 in the remote village of Flamengos, Faial, Azores, to Jose and Maria Leopoldina Silva. Joe was the oldest of three children. In 1959, at the age of seventeen, Joe immigrated to the United States with his parents and two sisters, Ida and Connie. Before leaving the Azores, Joe asked the love of his life, Maria Aldina, to marry him. In 1963, Joe and his father established Joe R. Silva and Son Dairy in Los Banos, California. After becoming established, Joe returned to the Azores, and he and Maria Aldina were married in 1965. Soon after, they began their life together, raising their five children on the family ranch: Caroline (Jorge) Cota, Darlene (Tim) Brasil, Gary (Kim) Silva, Christine (Brian) Cascia, and Megan (Jessie) Punt. Although he was a dairy farmer by trade, Joe's true passion was fixing things. Many affectionately called him "McGyver Joe," because there seemed to be nothing he couldn't repair. If something was broken, Joe would find a way to fix it. Joe was a well-known and beloved man who never met a stranger. Strong-willed yet humble and generous, he was deeply loved and admired by all who knew him. ...[more]

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re was no reading in between the lines, no gray areas and he was never wrong. He loved traveling, sharing stories of the history of his heritage, picking on his grandchildren as well as spending time at his vacation home in Morro Bay. He led by example, working hard while always prioritizing faith and family. Joe generously shared his time, talents, and resources with many organizations and church communities. He played a key role in assisting with the building of the church and hall during the early stages of Our Lady of the Assumption in Turlock, California, as well as helping build the new St. Joseph Parish in Los Banos. Joe served as a member of the Knights of Columbus and held numerous leadership roles throughout the community. He served as Supreme President and Board Member of UPEC (PFSA), Past President of Our Lady of the Assumption Celebration (Turlock), Past President of the Our Lady of Fatima Society (Los Banos), served as President and Board Member of San Joaquin Valley Dairyman/California Dairy Incorporated, Board Member of Western United Dairymen, President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board and Member of the OLF School Advisory Board, President of the Los Banos FFA Ag Boosters, and served as a Director of the Los Banos DES. Joe was a lifelong devoted Catholic, faithfully attending Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption for many years before making St. Joseph Catholic Church, his home parish. He and his wife were also on Portuguese Team 1 of Teams of Our Lady. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Jose R. Silva and Maria Leopoldina Silva. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Maria Aldina; his five children; and his eleven grandchildren: Jonathon and Jordan Cota; Victoria and Grace Brasil; Sheldon (Jeremiah) Laupua, Jadin (Jaqueline) Silva, and Gannon Silva; Conner and Ella Cascia; and Keston and Leighton Punt. He also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren, as well as his sisters, Ida Freitas and Connie (Joe) Sousa, along with many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe's memory to Our Lady of Fatima School, 1625 Center Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635, or to Spirit of Father Mata, P.O. Box 3718, Turlock, CA 95381 (spiritoffathermata.com). A visitation for Joe will be held Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel, 1840 S. Center Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635. A Recitation of the Rosary will take place Monday, March 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1621 Center Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635. A committal service will follow at Los Banos Cemetery District, 16575 Center Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635.