It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our sweet beautiful mother and grandmother.
Bertha (Olivas) Lopez was born on Feb. 24, 1930 in El Paso, Texas. She passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2023 in Santa Barbara, with daughter Patricia by her side.
Bertha was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was last in her family to be with our Lord.
Her parents were Salvador and Manuela (Ojeda) Olivas, both originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. Brothers Luis Ojeda, Rodolfo, Alberto, Evaristo; sister Lupe Wilson, and Julian Olivas precede her in death. She is joined with the love of her life Reyes Lopez, to whom she was married for 67 years.
As a teenager Bertha’s family left El Paso for a better life in South Los Angeles, California. When she and sister Lupe learned of cousins in Santa Barbara; they came to meet their cousins.
They bonded quickly with aunt Tia Otilia and her cousins and the small town of Santa Barbara. Bertha and Lupe asked their mom Manuela to stay. Manuela said, “If it’s okay with Otilia, then it’s okay with me.”
So as it came to be, Bertha and Lupe lived with cousins Margaret, Frank, Esther, Pantaleon and Santos Ojeda. They all were raised in a small house on Haley Street, across from the original Rose Cafe. Tia Otilia’s house still exists today.
Bertha loved to dance and would attend all the dance halls with Lupe, Margaret and Esther in and around Santa Barbara. Times were hard and money was scarce, but the four cousins always dressed their best. Bertha and Esther wore the same size, and would often exchange clothes to increase their wardrobe. But they would polish their heels to match their dress. (Clever)
While completing continuation school (as suggested by the foreman) Bertha was hired at Johnson Lemon Packing Co. as packer No. 016 (she never forgot her employee number).
From time to time, she would return to Los Angeles to visit family, and found work in a florist shop and as a server at her cousin’s diner.
On one of her trips back to Santa Barbara, Bertha’s friend Socorro introduced Reyes to Bertha (dad would see her around town and was insistent to find out who the “new girl in town” was.
Reyes charmed his way into her heart but that also came with a few breakups in-between. After courting Bertha for seven years, they married Jan. 15, 1955, on a rainy day at St. Malachy’s Church in South Los Angeles. (People say rain on your wedding brings good luck). As luck and love would have it, their union lasted 67 years!
It’s important to note during their 67 years, they encountered lean years. Finances were low (Bertha never wanted to borrow from anyone or sought help in any way). They would recycle glass bottles as Reyes had just begun his permanent position with the city of Santa Barbara Parks Department.
Their first apartment was on the corner of Olive and Canon Perdido streets, then they moved to a duplex around the corner at East De La Guerra Street.
By this time, Bertha was employed as a packer at Columbia Records (which no longer exists). Her floor lady Terry Vittoni knew mom was looking to buy a house. Terry told her a house next door to hers was for sale and she should take a look at it before she loses her opportunity.
Mom and Dad looked at the house, liked it, bought it, and the rest is our family history. Today, we are one of three original families who remain on our block.
Mom was a visionary. She saw improvement to our home and always worked within her budget. She was always hands-on. She could fix TV cables, sew from a pattern (my eighth-grade graduation dress), knit, crochet, cook (usually to dad’s liking), and bake.
We were definitely spoiled by her wonderful cooking and baking, especially for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those holidays were always spent with mom’s family in Los Angeles.
She managed her housecleaning jobs to clients in Montecito and Hope Ranch while her daughters attended school. She was a selfless lady and would provide family members shelter and meals if they needed to stay a few nights or even a year, no questions asked. How nurturing she was.
She provided both daughters, Hilda and Patricia, as much as she could. She never overlooked any details. She would drive us to Franklin School in her 1956 Chevy Handyman wagon (still in the garage, but we’ll do our best to bring it back to pristine condition, I promise Mom).
She wanted us girls to learn as much as we could and be independent. She was a strong-minded woman who wouldn’t wait on anyone. Always dependable, reliable, hands-on, friendly and loved to laugh (even the dirty ones).
She was very warm and kind, yet private and sometimes soft-spoken. She definitely had a heart of gold, as there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family, which always came first with her. Her mold was not broken, it was shattered!
She loved music (even opera) as much as Dad. Although Dad was the family star, she also had a beautiful voice. There were times I would find them singing together. She sang a pretty good second. Selflessly she let him have the spotlight; she was his backbone.
A strong-minded woman by nature, when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 1961, she was given 3-6 months to live. She intensely braved through her surgeries and treatments, and amazed Dr. Love and his nurses at her recovery and survival.
She never gave up; she couldn’t bear the thought of having her daughters grow without a mother. She came through with flying colors regardless of her health setbacks of cancer and her stroke in 1998.
Most recently she experienced aspiration pneumonia at home. Shortly thereafter she needed the care of a full-time staff where she stayed at Buena Vista Care Center for the past year.
Mom was a faithful member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. She was an active Guadalupana and volunteered countless hours singing in the choir (in the early 1980s); made tamales; helped in the white elephant/antique booth; painted the girls restroom (along with Emily Jacquez); and renewed her 25th wedding vows.
Many thanks of appreciation to Station 2 nursing staff at Buena Vista Care Center, Goleta, and Hospice/VNA for their wonderful compassion, caring and teamwork assisting in mom’s final days of comfort with dignity. Thank you, also, to Fr. Reggie with VNA for praying at mom’s bedside.
She is survived by her daughters Hilda McLaughlin, Patricia Lopez Balboa (Hector); grandchildren Billy Fletcher Jr. (Annie), and Ariana McLaughlin; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren.
We love you mom and we’ll miss you until we are joined with you. You’re forever our rock and glue of the family.
From Patricia — I couldn’t love you anymore mom. I know you are resting in peace.
Please join for Bertha’s final resting place. Burial service will be 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 and mass at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, both at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 21 E. Sola St., Santa Barbara. Burial immediately following at Calvary Cemetery, 199 N. Hope Ave., Santa Barbara. Reception details to be announced after cemetery service.