Obituary of Helen M. Davis

Helen M. (Silveira) Davis, 91, of Palm Bay, FL, passed away suddenly from complications brought on with acute pneumonia on February 10, 2024.  

Helen was the loving wife of the late John E. Davis who passed away in July 2020.  She and John shared 64 years of marriage and retired to Palm Bay, Florida from Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1991. 

Helen was born in Gloucester, MA, on January 23, 1933, the daughter of the late Lenora (Souza) and William Silveira Sr. Helen was educated in the Gloucester school system and upon her high school graduation trained at a secretarial school in Boston MA.  After obtaining her certifications she was immediately employed by Eastern Airlines, working at J. F. K. Airport in Queens New York.  She enjoyed her time in NY, being in the busiest airport in the United States for just over two years.  Helen missed her family and friends dearly and desired to get back to Gloucester.  She then moved “back home” and began working for Boston Gas, in their Salem MA accounting and operations offices. 

Helen met John, the love of her life, among mutual friends once she had returned to Gloucester.  She was dedicated to her family and her Portuguese heritage with many cousins in Gloucester.  Helen and John married in February 1956 and lived their entire working lives in Gloucester before retiring to Palm Bay Florida.  Above all things, family time was always their enjoyment.  She and John raised three sons, while being involved in their boys’ many sporting activities.  Later in life they traveled to Bermuda, the Bahamas, England, and Ireland. Helen, in her younger days was a longtime parishioner in Gloucester to both Our Lady of Good Voyage & St. Ann’s churches.  While in Florida she was a parishioner to St. Joseph’s Parish and a member of the ladies’ auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, Palm Bay Florida. 

A fun story for Helen was that she never played golf until she retired to Florida.  There she took lessons and became a regular with “her girls” for weekly golfing & of course lunch after their excursion on the golf links.  To her credit, she recorded not one, but two holes-in-one and had them registered in the United States Golfing Society of certified holes in ones on 18-hole courses.  She never claimed to be an expert golfer, but she instead said she was proof that lightning can strike twice in the same place.  Her two aces were on the same par 3 hole about 3 years apart! 

Helen is survived by her three sons, Michael Davis and wife Judith of Middleton, MA, Steven Davis Sr. and wife Robin, Christopher Davis and wife, Mimi, all of Gloucester; five grandchildren, Alex Davis and fiancé Hawley Rae of Alton Bay, NH, Tina Eliuk and husband Mark of Peabody, Steven Davis Jr., Olivia Davis, both of Gloucester and Hayley Davis (companion Nick Denisco) of Epping, NH; three great-grandchildren. Cody and Brett Eliuk of Peabody, and Everly Rae Davis of Alton Bay, NH; sister-in-law, Anne (Mountain) Davis of Manchester CT; along with many nieces and nephews on the Davis side of her family. Additionally surviving her is her last remaining first cousin, Marjorie (Souza) Sontheimer of Irvine, California, Helen (six months her senior) and “Cousin Marjie” grew up together in Gloucester as the youngest members of their families.  They were in consistent telephone contact with each other throughout the years. 

Helen was predeceased by her husband John, her parents Nora & Bill Silveira, her brother William Silveira Jr., her in-laws Walter & Helen Davis, brother-in-law Walter Owen Davis Jr., sister-in-law Madelyn (Davis) White (husband Robert), and niece Barbara (White) Gillis. 

The family would like to recognize and thank the staff of the William Childs Hospice House, Palm Bay Florida. Once Helen’s health became so delicate, their care and compassion were excellent.