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  Rita Xavier da Silveira and Robert Wilson Holland Robert Wilson Holland, born June 06, 1884 in Indaiatuba, SP, Brazil, died September 10, 1920 in Osasco, SP, Brazil. He was the son of Leroy Chalmers Holland and Margaret Cynthia Steagall. There is not much to tell about Robert for he had not a long life, having died at 36 years old. Few memories are left for all his sons are dead already. His parents raised Robert, called Bob by his family, most of his childhood living in the small farms his father had or worked in and learning the farm matters, although his family gave him a good education. Luiza Cantoni, his sister-in-law, who did never met him personally, tells that "her husband Paul used to say Bob was very tall, strong and fearless. Cynthia, their mother, taught all her children to write and the daughters were taken to study in São Paulo. Bob went to school, but his teacher said that he had more knowledge than himself, was very inteligent and he was not the right person to teach him." He married Rita Xavier da Silveira October 31, 1905. She was the daughter of Joaquim Xavier da Silveira and Isabel da Silveira Leite. Robert's wife was born 26 of June, 1875 and was nine years older than he was. Rita was baptised in the Church Nossa senhora da Candelária in Itu, São Paulo, Brazil. Her baptism certificate (Book 84, pg 45v) shor her mother's name as Isabel Rodrigues da Silveira. Rita's Godparents were João Rodrigues da Rocha and his wife Rita Maria do Espírito Santo, all living in Itú at the time. When Bob became interested in her, who was a very young widow of an old man, her stepdaughter thought that the frequent visits Robert was doing were due to her and not her stepmother. The stepdaughter never talked Rita again, from the marriage on. Robert was the manager of Rita's old husband's farm in Porto Feliz. Rita first married a farmer named Almeida Prado. Her father gave her in marriage to this man when she was only thirteen. Her father was a wealthy farmer from a traditional family of Ytu, SP, and so was her first husband, her father's friend. She used to tell that she took her dolls with her when moved, unwillingly, to her first husband's house. After she married Robert they stayed a couple of years in Porto Feliz, then they moved to Osasco, close to São Paulo, where Robert had found a new job in Armour, a ham cannery. He was in charge of the department were the put the meat in cans. Recenty one of the men of his department had been fired recently for did something wrong. This men wanted to get revenge so fixed one of the machines, where they put the meat under pressure to get it into the cans, in a way that a lot of steam was escaping. When they went to correct it the whole thing exploded and a piece fled from the machine hitting Bob, who was behing a close table, in the head and killing him almost imediatelly. This very same day, Lico and Eduardo his oldest sons had just arrived at home, after being registered in the American school, Mackenzie. Ritinha told them, while they happly showed thier new books, Daddy will be so happy about this. In the very same moment they got the news about his death. The second time widow was then in a very straightened situation and went to live a while with her parents-in-law in Itirapina. But they were very much stern. This situation was provisory for the grandparents were old and Lee died soon after she moved in with her children. Then she sent her two youngest sons to her father's home and moved with the two oldest ones. She went to Piracicaba, where she worked a lot to raise the four boys, the youngest ones she got back soon after settled. Rita always lived with her oldest son Luiz, and was a much jealous mother. He was her favorite son. She was always excusing him to his wife and saying men need a time to be alone and have fun. She used asking her daughter-in-law Helena to go to the theater, but just after the movie began she slept or asked to go home. She was a peevish grandmother. Helena complained much for when she visited her other sons, she had previously compromised with Helena to call her in an appointed date, much soon, and say Luiz needed her back. Helena could never have some rest. Rita never wanted to be apart much time from Luiz. She suffered Alzhaimer'sduring about two years. She died the first day of February, 1961 and is buried in Piracicaba, with her sons Luiz and João. Robert is buried in São Paulo with Eduardo. They had four sons, nine grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren. The Family of Robert Wilson Holland and Rita Xavier da Silveira Luiz Lee Holland He was born January 28, 1908 in Porto Feliz, SP and married Edhmyr Siqueira September 03, 1934. He worked during of most of his life at Ótica A Especialista, in Sao Paulo. He and his wife traveled a lot during their lives. He was a very kind and well-educated man. He and his older brother Luiz liked very much of playing chess. He used to Speak English very well and was the last natural English Speaking person of Robert's descendants. All younger people just learned this language at school, not at home. He learned English at his grandparent's home, in Itirapina, after the death of his father. Eduardo died of cancer December 06, 1986 in São Paulo, SP. He had three daughters; they had also five grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Carlos Holland He was born June 12, 1910; died December 1985 in Araçatuba, SP; married Clara Souza Leão June 11, 1938. She was born April 8, 1914. They had two sons, five grandsons and one granddaughter. João Batista Holland He was born June 24, 1911; died May 24, 1984 in Piracicaba, SP; married Carmela d'Aquino June 09, 1938. She was born January 6, 1918 in São Carlos, SP. He worked long in Singer Company and lived at Goias some time. After his retirement they came back to Piracicaba where he went to work at his brother Luiz's plant as Accounting Manager and Treasurer. He worked there till his death, due to Parkinson's disease. His wife is still working, in 2000, in the company of her grandson. They had one daughter.
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