Ernest A. Oliva

  GARDNER - Ernest A. Oliva, 93, of 395 West Street, Gardner, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at the Baldwinville Nursing Home.     He was born in Concord, NH, on December 10, 1918, the son of Ernest and Maria (Agrimonti) Sillari.  Upon his parents’ deaths at a young age, he was adopted by Phillip and Clorinda Oliva. Shortly after his adoption, Mr. Oliva passed away and he was raised by Clorinda and his step-father, Frank Buffo.      Ernest was raised in Gardner and graduated from Gardner High School with the class of 1939. Many years ago, he owned and operated the former Buffo’s Restaurant and worked for twenty-seven years as a truck driver for the Heywood-Wakefield Company. Mr. Oliva had worked as a salesman for the former Factory Store until his retirement several years ago.      He was an active member of AARP and arranged many trips for the organization. He was also a member of the Greater Gardner Chapter 3237 and Gardner Golden Age Club. Ernest was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church. He was an avid reader and loved to travel.     He leaves his wife of seventy-one years, Mary (Lore) Oliva; two sons, Robert J. Oliva and his wife Mary of E. Templeton, Lawrence P. Oliva and his wife Dianne of Gardner; one brother, Louis Sillari of Concord, NH; five grandchildren, Laurie Wiita and her husband William, Christine Oliva Kumar, Robert E. Oliva and his wife Sandra, all of Gardner, Michael Oliva of Baldwinville, Michelle Oliva of Falmouth; eight great grandchildren, Sean and David Wiita, Nathan, Riley and Gabrielle Oliva, Devan and Jayen Kumar, and Megan Oliva; also many nieces and nephews.     He was predeceased by his son, Steven E. Oliva; by two brothers, Edward and Peter Sillari; and by one sister, Aurora Schinella.     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 166 Cross St., Gardner. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Gardner.     Calling hours will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon Street, Gardner.     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to American Parkinson Disease Association - MA Chapter, 720 Harrison Ave., Suite 707, Boston, MA 02118 or Baldwinville Nursing Home's Activity Fund, P.O. Box 24, Baldwinville, MA 01436. $(document).ready(function(){ });