February 09, 1939 - February 13, 2022
Eiberta “Bertha” Torres passed away at St. Joseph’s Medical Center on February 13, 2022.
She was surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was born in Artesia, New Mexico on February 9, 1939. Bertha is survived by her sister Cleo Sierra; her children, Virginia Reyna, Grace Ceniceros, Elizabeth Duhart, Rachel Torres (George Lackey), Steve Torres and Paul Torres (Anna Palacio); her grandchildren, Veronica, Anthony, Michael, Faith, Teresa, Aimee, Angela, Hannah, Sarah, Elizabeth, Matthew, Marcus, Danielle and Paul Jr.; her great grandchildren, Aaron, Michael Anthony, Matias, Nicholas, Mila and Dominique.
She will be greeted in heaven by her husband Frank Torres, grandmother Lupe Dominiquez, mother Celia Saucedo, sister Victoria Torres and grandson Nicholas Duran. Bertha and her family moved to Stockton, CA in the 1940’s. Bertha worked hard her entire life, beginning in her youth as a laborer in agricultural fields with her family. She worked as a housekeeper at Fulton Villa, Plymouth Square and Venetian Terrace. She was also a union representative at Plymouth Square. She later joined her best friend Angie Maldonado in private business providing caregiving and housekeeping.
Bertha was a dedicated volunteer for St. George’s Church and School. She organized rummage sales, prepared and served school cafeteria meals, and held responsibilities for fundraising at the annual church festival including bingo and cake booths, baking many of the delicious cake prizes.
Bertha’s passion for cooking was matched by her culinary skills. Many who had the good fortune to break bread at her kitchen table will tell you her flour tortillas, refried beans and tamales were the best they ever had. Bertha enjoyed time in her garden, needlework, quilting and listening to mariachi music.
Bertha’s home was open to all. Her children knew better than to let a friend or coworker go without family or home-cooking for the holidays. The love she had and gave was never more present than in the meals she provided.
Organizations that were dear to her were St. Mary’s Dining Room and Ronald McDonald Charities. Bertha’s ashes will be spread on a future date. Family and friends will be notified of a celebration of life to be held later this year. However, the celebration can begin now by donating to those organizations listed above and of which she was very fond.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Torres family.