- November 14, 2024
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Ignacia Silva almost made it to 105. Courtesy photo
Ignacia Silva's family. Prince Nolan, Tyrese Corniel (grandsons), Jason Corniel (son), Carolyn Soto (granddaughter), Andres Rivera (son-in-law), and Julia Rivera (daughter) celebrate the life of Ignacia Silva. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ignacia Silva (right) at a reunion 20 years ago with her brother, Benito Silva(center), and her sister Josefa Silva. Baez. Courtesy photo
Ignacia Silva's family and friends gathered at the Hispanic American Club in Palm Coast to celebrate her 105th birthday on Sunday, May 15. Silva wasn't there – she died 10 days before, on May 5 -- but the nearly achieved milestone was still going to be celebrated.
Silva wasn't the only one in her family to live a long life; her grandmother died at 114 years; her father at 106 years; her mother at 98 years.
“We had a big party for her 100th birthday, and about 30 people for a smaller party last year,” her daughter Julia Rivera said.
“She loved being the center of attention,” her granddaughter Carolyn Soto said. “She was a great, grandmother.”
The event included music, dancing and lots of food – things everyone agreed Silva would have liked.
“She wasn't shy,” Soto said. “She would have gone up there and grabbed that mic.”
They talked about Silva's first airplane ride from Puerto Rico in 1946 – the first time she came to New York. She would return to live in Puerto Rico until her husband died. She moved in with Andres and Julia Rivera's family in New York in 1985, until the family moved to Palm Coast four years ago.
She loved gardening, cooking, and being with her family and friends.
“Up until she was 98, she was in the kitchen cooking,” Soto said. “That was her domain.”
Family members each had favorite dishes.
“She would make beans and you wouldn't need anything else with them,” Julia Rivera said.
Favorite dishes were remembered – pasteles, arroz con dulce, and Puerto Rican coquito (eggnog with Puerto Rican rum).
Everything was done by hand, no gadgets for Silva. Even her coffee was made without a maker.
The oldest of three, Silva was taught to sew, cook and keep house for her family since she was about 9 years old. She worked as a seamstress in the garment district in New York.
“She had no formal education, and yet, anything she tackled she could do,” Soto said.
