Silvina Maria (Guerreiro) Weintraub

March 8, 1940 – February 10, 2015

Silvina's life was a remarkable journey and testament to her spirit and resilience. Born into humble beginnings during World War II Europe, she grew up on a farm in the rolling hills of Santana da Serra in southern Portugal, where she was the only girl and the youngest of four children.

An independent woman from a young age, she moved to the capital city of Lisbon by herself at just 19 years old, and then again to London, England at the age of 23, where she worked as a nanny. She would often comment that this latter move was one of the bravest moments of her life, as she stepped into a foreign land, not knowing the language, but willing to learn and make a new life for herself.

It was in London where she met her future husband Philip in a chance encounter while he was on a business trip. They married several years later and Silvina moved to Brooklyn, NY, where they started a family and where she would spend the rest of her life. Silvina's greatest joy came from being a mother to her son Mark, and she cherished the title of "mom" more than anything else. She would go on to raise Mark on her own after her husband’s unexpected passing in 1991 though found support with her friends and religious family at Temple Beth Emeth.

She had a rich and wide range of interests that reflected the diversity of her experiences and zest for life. She was an avid gardener who cultivated beautiful flowers and bountiful vegetables, packing more growth into the square footage of her backyard and community garden than most people could ever have imagined. She was a talented cook who would spend hours in the kitchen perfecting dishes to be shared with her loved ones. Her sense of adventure led to her love of travel and exploration. Above all, she cherished time spent with children, sharing in their laughter and wonder.

Silvina lived a life full of courage, adventure, dedication, and responsibility. Her spirit lives on through her son, Mark, and those whose lives she touched.