Bertha Morales Roybal

Bertha Morales Roybal, 88, entered this world on January 8, 1923 in Las Cruces, New Mexico and passed peacefully in her home on November 30, 2011 surrounded by her loving family. Bertha was the Matriarch of her family and leaves a legacy of strong family values, generosity and charitable giving and she was a dedicated advocate of peace and social justice. Bertha is preceded in death by her parents, Rosalio and Francisca Morales, and her sisters, Genevieve Apodaca and Rosella Wachtler and her son-in-law, Hal Berkus. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Felipe “Pito” Roybal, daughters, Dolores Craven, Patricia Roybal Caballero and son-in-law Carlos Caballero, Therese Roybal Berkus and her two beloved and adored grandsons, Yusef Fannon Sutton and Celestino Ixtil Caballero. She is also survived by her beloved nieces, Emma Jean Cervantes and New Mexico State Representative Mary Helen Garcia, Kathy Sue Sullivan, and nephews Michael and Patrick Wachtler, and many grand nieces, nephews, cousins, and close family friends in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and California. Bertha was a devout Catholic committed to Catholic life and education and she worked hard to support the Sisters of Loretto and send her daughters to Loretto Academy, classes of 1968 and 1976. Bertha and Felipe “Pito” were exemplary citizens serving their country, Bertha as a Rosie Reveter during WWII and Felipe “Pito” as a three-war Veteran with thirty three years of service in the U.S. Army. As a dedicated Army wife, Bertha followed her husband on his many military assignments and she had a reputation of being a meticulous hostess to many military, family and community social events and as military support volunteer. Bertha worked very hard since she was a young woman helping her father manage his tailor shop in Las Cruces and her sister Genevieve in building her thriving farming business. In her later life she served as a Red Cross Volunteer at William Beaumont and Southwestern General Hospital. Bertha was also a committed life-long Democrat and political activist organizing get-out-the-vote efforts, hosting fundraisers for key Democrats in her home and supporting multiple Democratic candidates including Raymond Telles, Polly Harris and Tony Ponce. She was the El Paso County Democratic Precinct 56 Chairperson and Precinct Judge for over twenty-five years and she called each of her constituents to make sure they voted in every election. The precinct elections in her precinct were known as the most organized, friendly and error free with voters expressing that “it was a pleasure to vote in Bertha’s Precinct 56.” Bertha belonged to the Altar Society and was a very devout charitable supporter of multiple Catholic missionary ministries throughout her life. But her most prized role in life was being an exemplary homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. She had the highest expectations of her children and grandsons and she constantly pushed them to pursue their higher education and exceed their own expectations. She taught them to be loving and caring and stressed the value of giving to those in need, of being involved in community and school and first and foremost to be attentive and loyal to family. Bertha’s family extends special gratitude to Dr. Branch Craige, Hospice of El Paso, Sierra Hospital, and Vital Care Home Health Agency and to our extended family and friends for their loving care. Visitation will be held 3p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, December 4, 2011 at Martin Funeral Home Central with a 5:00 p.m. rosary. Funeral Mass will be held 12:00 p.m. Monday, December 5, 2011 at St. Michaels Chapel Post Chapel #2. Interment will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. For those accompanying the family for the funeral Mass, please meet at Martin Funeral Home Central by 10:30 a.m. to join the funeral procession to St. Michaels at Ft. Bliss. For those unable to do so, please call the funeral home for special instructions to enter Ft. Bliss.Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Martin Central, El Paso, TX.