Maria Sinharinha Tome' da Silva Lawver
Maria Sinharinha Tome’ da Silva Lawver
Tome’, 86, passed away on Jan. 11 at Lakeview Care Center surrounded by her loving family.
Born June 11, 1926, to Maria Grangeiro Tome’ and Jose’ Tome’ da Silva near Fortaleza, Brazil. Her brothers and sisters were Lica, Francesa, Elsa, Manuelito, Joao and Luis.
She came to the United States to attend college at Florida Southern in Lakeland, Fla. There she met and married her soul mate, James Everett Lawver. Jim and “Tome’” lived in Lakeland for several years before moving to Edina, Minn. in 1963, at which time she earned her Master’s degree at the University of Minnesota while teaching Portuguese to undergraduates. In 1974, she and her husband moved back to Lakeland, Fla. eventually to retire there.
In 2011, Tome’ moved to Bigfork to be close to her daughter, Joyce.
Tome’ is preceded in her death by her parents, all her siblings and her dear husband of 49 years, James Everett Lawver.
She is survived by her daughter, Joyce Lawver Mitchell and her husband Dan Mitchell of Bigfork, and her son, Joseph West Lawver and his wife Sylvia and daughter Georgia of Edina, Minn., and her nieces, Lorraine Smith of West Palm Beach, Fla. and Virginia Lovisolo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Among her many passions, “Tome’” was an avid tennis player, both cunning and adept at bridge and chess, and a self-taught and skillful investor. Rhythm was in her bones as she and her husband delighted in ballroom dancing and Latin American dances on the many cruises they took.
Her outlook was always globally-oriented as she and Jim travelled to all ends of the earth including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Holland, South Africa, Egypt, India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada and many more.
“Tome’” was an accomplished poet with several published poems. She was fluent in all romance languages especially Portuguese, Spanish, French and Latin and served briefly as a translator when in Florida.
She was a loving and devoted wife, a caring mother and grandmother, a dear friend, a constant source of inspiration and will be forever missed.
The family of Tome’ wishes to thank the Lakeview Care Center for such tender and loving attention paid to her. There will be a private family ceremony and scattering of ashes in August of 2013. Any condolences or shared memories may be sent to Joyce Mitchell, PO Box 526, Bigfork, MT 59911.