Life Tributes
March 13, 1933 - March 19, 2023
SAN DIEGO — Evelina Costa Silva DaRosa passed away peacefully at 10:41 a.m. in Sharp Memorial Hospital on March 19, 2023, at the age of 90.
Evelina was born in Santo Amaro do Pico, Açores, Portugal, and came to the United States in 1954 in search of a better life for her future family. Her husband, Cristiano Garcia DaRosa, would follow a year later. Although Evelina was extremely proud of her new life as an American, she never forgot her roots in Portugal and her Portuguese traditions, culture, and heritage. This same devotion, she in turn. instilled on all her children, and Evelina became very involved in the Portuguese Community of San Diego.
The United Portuguese S.E.S. Hall hosts San Diego’s Oldest Ethnic Festival, the U.P.S.E.S. Festa do Espírito Santo, currently celebrating its 113th year. In 1985, Evelina and Cristiano became Festa Presidents crowning their daughter Evelyn as Queen. Both were the founding members of the Filarmónica União Portuguesa de San Diego. In 2010, Evelyn would become the Centennial Festa President crowning her own daughter, Karinna Evelina, and son, Joshua Michael, as Centennial Queen and King. Following Cristiano’s death from cancer in 2015, Evelina (with the aid of her daughter) became the 2017 Festa President at the age of 84, which she dedicated in loving memory of her husband.
Evelina Costa Silva DaRosa also served as a Board Member and Donor for the Aliança Açoreana, the Festa de Bom Jesus Miligroso, and the U.P.S.E.S. Festa da Santíssima Trindade. She was also a dedicated member in every other Portuguese organizations in the greater San Diego Area including: the Festa do Santo Amaro, Inc; the Cabrillo Civic Club #16; the Portuguese-American Social and Civic Club; the Sociedade Portuguesa da Rainha Santa Isabel; the Portuguese-American Fraternal Society; and the Luso American Financial – A Fraternal Benefit Society.
Evelina worked for many years at Ratner’s Clothiers sewing hems on men’s pants. Her sewing expertise would be a skill that she utilized throughout her life. Evelina was always willing to help anyone in need in any way she possibly could. Evelina assisted any immigrant that came from Portugal to establish their life in America. She advocated for many Portuguese women in getting employment at Ratner’s Clothiers and later at Van Camp Seafoods. Numerous Portuguese families received her helping hand in establishing their new American lives.
Evelina will be lovingly remembered by her family: her brother Albert Costa Silva (MaryJo), sister-in-law Lucilda Fagundes, her sons Larry Silva DaRosa (Danielle) and Christian Garcia DaRosa, her daughter Evelyn DaRosa Feliciano, her grandchildren Jason DaRosa, Nathan DaRosa (Martha), Dylan DaRosa, Joshua Feliciano (Dana) and Karinna Feliciano (Zalyn), as well as her great grandchildren Janée Feliciano, Michaela Feliciano, Maverick Feliciano, Lucy DaRosa, Nathalia DaRosa, Zalyn Bullard, and Kaden Bullard.
Evelina is preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Cristiano Garcia DaRosa, her son-in-law Michael Feliciano, her granddaughter Janée Feliciano, her parents José and Maria Costa Silva, her sister Durvalina Silva, sister Maria Dolores
DeMelo, brother-in-law Joe DeMelo, brother José V. Silva, sisterin-law Carlota Silva, sister-in-law Maria da Saude doNascimento, brother-in-law Manuel Jorge do Nascimento, Sister-in-law Rosalinda Mesquita, brother-in-law Alfredo Mesquita, brotherin-law Manuel Cristiano Fagundes.
Upon Cristiano’s death in 2015, Christian would become Evelina’s primary care giver and companion. His devotion to her will never be forgotten. The DaRosa Family would like to thank Teresa Nogueira and Susan Bagaso for the attentive loving care they gave Evelina throughout her lifetime.
Our family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Aliança Açoreana, or the Filarmónica União Portuguesa de San Diego.
Evelina will always be remembered.
Viewing 4pm-8pm on Monday, March 27th at Dignity Mortuary in Ocean Beach. Recitation of the rosary and funeral mass at 9:30am on March 28th Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Point Loma. Interment immediately following at Holy Cross Cemetery with reception following at the United Portuguese S.E.S. Point Loma.