Carmen Silva

Carmen J Silva, age 63, of Milledgeville passed away at her home residence on July 16, 2014. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 110 N. Jefferson St., Milledgeville, GA. At the end of her 2 ½ year courageous struggle with Cancer of the Pancreas and side effects of her stroke, she fought with dignity and faith that GOD blessed her to share each day with family and friends. Carmen was born at 4pm in San Lorenzo P.R. May 1, 1951, at home. At an early age she went into the Convent Siervas de Maria in San Juan, but by the grace of God she chose to be an RN before she took her vows to become a Sister of the Order. She received her RN license and worked at Hospital Oncoligico Medical Center of Old San Juan. With Carmen Rivera and 2 other friends, she moved to Long Beach, CA to work at the Veterans Hospital. She retired in 2001 from the VA in St Petersburg, FL with 20+ years of service. She served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1982 to her Honorable Discharge Mar. 1998. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Milledgeville. Father Young came May 12 to give Carmen her Last Rite so she could pass and be with God our Heavenly Father. She is survived by her “Beloved Partner” of 27 yrs., Janet Merklein, her parents Francisco and Dolores Silva of Caguas P.R., her brother Pedro (Maritza) Silva of San Juan, her sister Gladys (Jose) of Cooper City, FL, Jack (Kathy) Merklein, Mary Dayton of Coral Springs, FL, Alan (Gale) Merklein of Sarasota, FL, Linda Merklein of Hollywood, FL, and Lauren Sukey of Durham, NC. Also 5 nieces and nephews, Pedro (Mindy) Silva of Lawrenceville, GA, Melissa (William) Ramos of Tampa, FL, Frances Silva-Colon of Cedar Falls, IA, Paola (Elmer) Blanco-Flores of Sunrise, FL, Francisco Blanco of Cooper City, FL. She was loved by these children as well as the Merklein nieces and nephews for all the things she taught them over the years. During the summer Titi Carmen & Janet would take the kids for a week, without the parents, to spend quality time with them fishing, jet skiing, horseback riding, telling spooky stories at night with their flashlights only to have them crawl in bed with us. Oh the joy the children bring to our life! And now that they have grown, they have entrusted their children to her on both sides of our family to guide them, but this terrible cancer had slowed her down to only watch their kids, Valeria, William, Malia, Javier and Noah, fish from her back yard. Too many Merklein family and friends to list but they were there in person or by phone at the end of her special life. Thanks to all of the Staff and Dr. Malhotra at the Northside Cancer Institute for the loving care they gave Carmen. The words of love are still pouring in from family and friends which played a big part of her fight to stay strong. The family has requested Memorial donations be made to Georgia Cancer Support, P.O. Box 1938, Milledgeville, GA 31059.

Carmen Silva

May 1, 1951 - July 16, 2014