Lupe Silva

Lupe L. Silva, 96, a woman of deep faith passed away May 22, 2015. The oldest of 5 children, she was born in Douglas, Arizona in 1919 as Lupe Lopez. She moved to California while very young and lived in Los Angeles County for the rest of her long life. From ages 6 to 12, Lupe attended and lived at a boarding school for girls with health challenges, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini School and Preventorium in Burbank. After returning home in 1931, she attended 46th Street Elementary School, McKinley Junior High, and Jefferson High School. She left High School in the 11th grade to help support her family, later attending the Wiggins Trade School to learn sewing. In 1938, Lupe joined 2 friends who started a new lingerie manufacturing company – and it was Lupe who named the new venture Elaine of Hollywood. During her 20 years at the company, she held many positions, including finishing seamstress, payroll preparation, office manager, and supervisor. Lupe met her husband of 62 years, Henry (Hank) in 1946 at Caliente Restaurant (now El Paseo Cantina) on Olvera Street while he was waiting for his train to the US Naval Base in San Diego where he was stationed. They married in 1946, raising their 2 children and building a successful and iconic restaurant, Bill's Taco House. After working at the restaurant for the first few years, Lupe "retired" to homemaking – the profession she most loved. She was meticulous about her home, famously known by her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews for her white-carpeted living room. Lupe was an excellent cook, and her Inglewood and San Pedro homes were always open to family and friends. Her meals were as abundant as her love. Until recently, she kept her mother's tradition of making Christmas tamales and New Year's Day menudo. At 96, she was the matriarch of her family, and she took the role seriously – always being available for giving advice and putting issues into perspective. Her philosophy of living in the present and always looking toward the future kept her young. She didn't hold onto hurts and never held grudges. She valued family above all. Her family feels her loss deeply but comforted by knowing that through her memory she will continue to influence and teach. She is survived by her daughter, Olivia Maiser and her son, Karl Silva as well as granddaughters Jennifer Maiser, Annie Richmond, Angelica Silva and Mary Wasser and great-grandchildren Fiona and Wyatt Richmond.

Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275