Nerissa Gail Silva's Obituary
SILVA, NERISSA GAIL (WILSHIRE) on Friday, October 4th, we lost our beautiful and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She served as the family’s ‘Director of Fun and Laughter’ even to the point of creating and playing ‘fort’ with great nephew T.J. She was the devoted mother of Katie, Kimmie, and Sydney. A single mom in the early years with Katie and Kimmie, she seemed to devote every waking minute to ‘her girls’, while also working full time for companies such as Lee Trevino Golf and Today’s Temporaries. Later, she became an accomplished human resource professional for Yum Brands, Brinker International, and 7-11. Only recently, she took a sabbatical from the corporate world to work with special education kids at RISD’s Spring Creek Elementary, where she fell in love with her “special kids”. They loved her too, because she was ‘fun’. Nerissa and Alan were the parents of an awesome young daughter, Sydney. With Sydney, they enjoyed soccer games, school events, and weekends at their “land” south of Wolfe City. There, they were building a cabin as the first step toward future retirement . Nerissa was born in Bryan, Texas on October 12, 1962. She attended Texas Tech University for two years as an architect student, then graduated from Executive Secretarial School in Dallas. In 2006, she graduated with a business degree from the University of Phoenix, because “I need to set an example for my girls.” Nerissa is survived by her loving husband of 17 years, Alan Silva, and three daughters, Katie Hope Heimsath and her husband, Jeff (Chicago), Kimberly Jean Worthington (Austin), and Sydney Elizabeth Silva (Dallas). Her parents, Roy and Carol Wilshire (Plano) also survive, along with brother, John Mark Wilshire (Plano), and sister, Andrea Leigh Crumrine (Rockwall). Her grandmother, Lucille Whitten Watson (Mansfield) also survives. She was preceded in death in 2009 by her beloved brother, Stephen Craig Wilshire. As Roy and Carol’s ‘middle’ children, they had a special bond, and now are holding hands walking the streets of Heaven. It is requested that any special gifts or contributions be made to Richardson ISD, designated to the special education program at Spring Creek Elementary School. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, October 7, 2013 at Restland Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM at The Hieghts Baptist Church in Richardson.
What’s your fondest memory of Nerissa?
What’s a lesson you learned from Nerissa?
Share a story where Nerissa's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Nerissa you’ll never forget.
How did Nerissa make you smile?