Cecilia (Ortiz) Silva, 80, of Garfield, passed away on December 12, 2020. Cecilia's life was an example of love and generosity. She was warm and compassionate yet intelligent and well read. She always went out of her way to help others. She trained as a teacher and was a principal in Colombia. She came to the US in 1969 and attended Montclair State University for Sociology, and it is there she met her husband, Eliecer. They married and had 4 children. She became a Child Life Specialist and worked at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center for over 40 years, where she dedicated her life to helping children and their families. She suffered the loss of her youngest son, David, to cancer in 2002, however she was subsequently blessed with 8 grandchildren who she adored and loved to spend time with.

She taught her family to love God; she kept Jesus at the center of her life and drew strength and courage from him.

The matriarch of her family, she will be dearly missed, especially her stuffed gourmet turkey and tamales. She left a massive void in the lives of her loved ones, but she also left them with amazing memories and stories to tell for generations and she will live on in their hearts forever.

Beloved wife of Eliecer Silva. Devoted mother of Linda Silva-Karcz, MD, and her husband Andrew Karcz of Washington Township, Charles Silva and his partner Angela Crowder of Lodi, Richard Silva and his wife Felicia of Lake Ariel, PA, and the late David Silva who passed away in 2002. Cherished grandmother of Gabriella, Olivia, Natalia and Andrew Karcz, and Gia, Richard and David Silva and soon to be Abigail Silva. Dear sister of Isabel Ortiz Carrillo of Clifton, Campos Elias Ortiz Carrillo and his wife Denis of Totowa, and Sofia Suarez and her husband Fernando of Penns Grove. Loving aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Visiting Saturday 8-9AM at the Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton, with a Prayer Service to begin at 9AM. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.