Bertha Librada Ordóñez Velasco beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, mother-in-law, and friend is now resting with the Lord.   She passed away on Monday, July 8th, 2024 at age 97 peacefully at home in Fallbrook, CA surrounded by her family.

Bertha was born on January 2, 1927, in Creel, Chihuahua daughter of Diògenes Ordóñez and Luz Loya. She was the 2nd born of 5 siblings.  She grew up in the Sierra Tarahumara. She enjoyed horseback riding and working on the Ranch.  At 18 she moved to Cuidad Chihuahua, Chihuahua to work.  She later met the love of her life Atanacio Velasco in Juarez, Chihuahua, and got married on February 27th, 1948.  They had 8 children 4 girls and 4 boys.  She adored her husband and was blessed with 57 years of marriage.

Atanacio and Bertha immigrated to California in 1967 and moved to Fallbrook.   In Fallbrook, they established a home, raised their children, and became part of a wonderful community.  She was honored to be able to give her family an opportunity for a better life.

Bertha had perseverance, tenacity, and dedication to succeed.  She worked for several years in agriculture, housekeeper, horticulturist, and craftswoman. She became a US citizen on November 1st, 1974.  In her fifties, she decided she wanted to start driving and hired Sears Driving School for lessons.

Bertha devoted life to her family, community, and church.  She will be remembered for her genuine, loving, joyfulness, caring, authentic personality, and great sense of humor, she always found a way to look at things with optimism and perseverance.  Her favorite time of year was Easter and Christmas. She enjoyed preparing traditional family dishes especially tamales, milanesas, flautas, chile rellenos, gorditas, menudo, buñuelos and capirotada. She did all of this for all her family with love and excitement.  Bertha enjoyed gardening, knitting, playing the guitar, singing, and cooking.  Her passion was serving the Lord, she was a devoted Catholic.  She was a member of Saint Peters Catholic Church, where she taught Catechism, sang in the choir, belonged to prayer groups, and visited the sick. Bertha was well-known and loved by her community.  She had several friends, godchildren, and compadres.

She was proud of the family she created and would take the time to remind them about their origin and the legacy of The Velasco Family.  She had unconditional love for her family.  She was an amazing grandmother to all her 26 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 41 great-great-grandchildren. She loved having an active role in raising the children.

Bertha is preceded by death by her beloved husband, mother, father, siblings Ramona Ordóñez, Diògenes Ordóñez, Enrique Ordóñez, grandsons Rigoberto Garcia, Angel Fruasto, and Arthur Velasco.  Bertha is survived by her children Graciela Frausto, Felix Velasco, Maria R. Garcia, Alberto Velasco, Teresa Flores, Atanacio Velasco (Tony), Juan Velasco, Lucia Jimenez, daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, sister Carmen Diaz, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, sister-law, godchildren, compadres, and friends cherish her memory and in her words ADELANTE (move forward)!