Tributes

BERTHA P. GONZALEZ Bertha P. Gonzalez passed away peacefully at her home in League City, TX on Saturday, April 7, 2007, with close family members by her side. She was a resident of San Antonio since 1964 and had lived in League City since 2003. The former Bertha Padron Bruce was born in Camaguey, Cuba on November 28, 1916, the daughter of Alfredo Padron and Herminia Bruce, both from long lines of Camagueyan families. She was the widow of Rinaldo D. Gonzalez, who preceded her in death on March 19, 1990. They were married on August 17, 1941 and had six children. Following her elementary and secondary schooling in 1935, Bertha attended the Escuela del Hogar Home Economics Institute in Havana, Cuba where she trained to become a teacher in home economics. She returned to her native Camaguey in 1939 and, together with a group of fellow hogaristas, founded the Escuela del Hogar de Camaguey, where she taught Physics and Natural Science until 1956. At that time, following the practice of this specialty school, she was elected by the faculty to be the schools Director. In that year, she also received her Doctors degree in Education from the University of Camaguey. After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the Escuelas del Hogar were abolished and Bertha was forced to close down her beloved school. Not long after that, the Gonzalez Padron family left Cuba, settling first in Miami, Florida until 1964 when they moved to San Antonio. With her professional career over at 44, Bertha Gonzalez turned all her attention to raising her large family. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and the loving matriarch of the family. Bertha is survived by her sons, Rinaldo J. Coty Trevino Gonzalez of San Antonio, Eduardo Mary Chirinos Gonzalez of Houston, Ricardo Brian Rieselman Gonzalez of Madison, WI, Carlos Daisy Debasa Gonzalez of Miami, FL, and Alberto Susan Angell Gonzalez of San Marcos; daughter Beth Richard Diehl of Seabrook; her sisters Herminia Jimenez of Sarasota, FL and Trinidad Alberto Silva of Tampa, FL, and brother Candido Maria Padron of Miami, FL; her 14 grandchildren, Rinaldo Juan, Maria Antonia Jeffrey Knight, Martha Trevino, Gabriela Robert Black, Eduardo, Enrique and Victor Gonzalez, Beatriz Todd Roth, Carlos Esther Gonzalez, Jorge Gonzalez, Cristi Roger Ochoa, Tranette Brad Whitfield Diehl, Julie Chad Brinkley, and Jennifer Diehl; and 18 great-grandchildren, Cuba, Griffin, Madison, Dylan, Cassidy, Harrison, Sebastian, Samantha, Alexander, Nicole, Isabella, Lianna, Taylor, Jordan, Madison, Brooklynn, Sydney and Avery. Funeral arrangements at Mission Park Funeral Chapel, 3401 Cherry Ridge, San Antonio, will include viewing and visitation at 6 pm and Rosary at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, with Service at 3 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, followed by interment at Mission Burial Park North, 20900 I.H.-10 West, San Antonio. The Gonzalez family wishes to extend a special appreciation to Elba and David Villasana, Gilda Hernandez, Monica and Hector Flores, Blanca and Carlos Lopez and their families for their loving care and attention to la abuelita. Likewise, we wish to thank the Texas City Hospice Care, especially Tomasa Rodriguez, for their services.

Tributes

Bertha Padron Gonzalez

November 28, 1916 - April 7, 2007