Judith Marie Kain DaSilva of Helena, Montana died unexpectedly on November 28, 2010 while on vacation in San Diego, California. <\/p>\n
Born on January 20, 1945 in Helena, Montana, to John A. and Sarah Haggerty Kain, Judy attended St. Helena School, where in first grade she met her future husband, Michael J. DaSilva. She graduated from Cathedral High School in Helena in 1963 and from St. Mary College, Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1967 with a B.S. in chemistry. After graduation she moved to Spokane, Washington for an internship and subsequent employment as a registered medical technologist. On a sunny Saturday, June 1, 1968, Judy made Mike the happiest man in the world by marrying him at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Judy and Mike began their family in Spokane, Washington where they lived until moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973 where their second child was born. In 1975, Judy and Mike returned to Helena and two years later welcomed their third child. In Spokane, Las Vegas and then in Helena, Judy had a successful career as a medical technologist, working in various laboratories including those at Shodair Hospital and Helena Family Physicians. When her children were young, Judy chose to spend several years as a homemaker. <\/p>\n
In 1992, Judy began classes at Carroll College, earning a B.A. in accounting and in 1994 began a second career in bookkeeping. Judy combined her medical and accounting knowledge working for eight years as a bookkeeper for Dr. Loren McKerrow. After Dr. McKerrow\u2019s death, Judy briefly worked for the State of Montana. In 2004, Judy\u2019s mounting health problems forced her to retire. <\/p>\n
Judy bravely faced health battle after health battle, and she fought diligently for the last seven years \u2013 determined to regain function and quality of life so that she might fully enjoy spending time with her family. During that time, Mike never left her side as her tender and endlessly patient caretaker and humorist. Amazingly, 2010 brought a season of renewed hope for Judy as positive results began to manifest from her reconstructive neck surgery in late 2009. Judy resumed gardening, dining out, seeing friends, home projects, driving and even crocheting \u2013 all activities she thought she may never do again. For the first time in three years, she was even able to travel to San Diego with Mike and spent this Thanksgiving with her daughter and family. <\/p>\n
Among hundreds of other things, Judy will be remembered for her commitment to her family, her love of fishing and time spent outdoors, her wonderful baking skills, her dry sense of humor, her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens and her lovingly crafted afghans and baby blankies. Above all, Judy\u2019s unconditional love and support for her immediate and extended family and friends remain as her enduring legacy. <\/p>\n
Judy was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, John P. Kain. Judy is survived by her sister, Pat Lester (Larry) of Independence, Missouri, brother, Dick Kain (Barb), of Helena and dear Aunt Margaret Seeberger of Glendive, Montana as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Also missing her terribly are her best friend and husband, Mike DaSilva; daughter, Donna Singer (Tracey) of San Diego, California; sons, Mick DaSilva (former spouse Kelly) and Tony DaSilva (Casey) all of Helena, and her ten much adored grandchildren. <\/p>\n
A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, December 6 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, and a Funeral Mass will be at noon Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Interment will take place at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Memorial donations in Judy\u2019s name may be sent to God\u2019s Love, 533 N. Main, Helena, Montana 59601.<\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/284010_profile_pic.jpg","youtube_video_url":"","family_email":"","family_first_name":"","family_last_name":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case\/636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}