Manuela Silva Vale

Manuela Silva Vale died unexpectedly after a brief illness on Nov. 3, 2017 in Portimao, Portugal.

Manuela was born in Angra do Heroismo on the beautiful green island of Terceira, Azores, Portugal to her parents, Rui do Vale and Ilda Silva Vale. As a young woman she traveled the world and had many adventures, spending time in Israel, Spain and Greece with her 4-year-old daughter as her companion.

In 1966 Manuela moved to the United States and lived in Warren, Pennsylvania where she raised her five children. She became passionate about arts in the community and was the president and education coordinator of the Warren Art League and director of the Warren County Council for the Arts.

She founded the Azores Art Studio where she taught children’s art classes. Manuela enjoyed hosting a weekly “open studio” night for her fellow artists where they would gather to paint, draw, socialize, and exchange ideas. Manuela studied art at Edindoro State College, in Pennsylvania, The Albert Handell School of Pastels in Woodstock, New York, Daniel Green Workshop in Montreal Canada and Raku Workshops with Susan and Steve Kemenyffy. She was the director of art for the “Art Train Exhibit,” a moving art show which traveled to various communities.

Manuela returned to her homeland in 1995, settling in the seaside village of Ferragudo in the Algrave region of Portugal. There she continued to paint and teach adult art classes at Escola De Artes, in Lagoa Portugal, forming the Giracor Art Group. Her classes flourished with the different cultural influences, having members of several nationalities such as Canadians, Portuguese, Dutch, English, Scottish, South African, Belgians, Norwegians, German, Polish and Irish. Under her guidance her students’ skills blossomed and the group was proud to hold yearly art exhibits to showcase their works. She also collaborated with the ACD De Ferragudo. Manuela herself continued painting all throughout her life and had numerous exhibits of her work in the United States, Canada and Portugal.

Manuela was most happy when feeding friends and family at her table, enjoying good conversation and laugher, and sharing a great bottle of wine. She found new inspiration for her art from living so close to the sea, and was very happy to be living in the beautiful sunshine of the Algarve.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Lucia Botelho.

Manuela is survived by her sister, Ilda, and brother-in-law Jose Avila of Modesto California; her daughter, Margarida Kondak, and son-in-law Doug Kondak of Homer, Alaska; her son, Daniel Stone of Buffalo New York; her son, Jim Stone and daugher-in-law, Anita Stone of Baltimore, Maryland; her daughter, Deborah Ruby Stone of Warren, Pennsylvania; and her son, Marco Stone of Hanford, California. She is also survived by four grandchildren; Jackie Kondak-Knoll, Alex Stone, Mia Stone and Logan Stone; and two great-grandsons, Carter Collins and Jamison Knoll. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and her brother-in-law, Francisco Botelho

A celebration of Manuela’s life will take place from 3-5 p.m. on Nov. 25, 2017 at the Villa Giavota Reception Area, Vale Da Azinhaga, Lote 7, 8400-276 Ferragudo

There will also be a celebration of life in Warren, Pennsylvania in the fall of 2018.