Berta Ramirez

Visitation Date: Sunday, May 6, 2018
Visitation Time: 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Funeral Date: Monday, May 7th, 2018
Funeral Time: 9:30 am
Place of Funeral: Ascension Church
Funeral Notes: Prayers and Final Viewing are Monday at Funeral Home starting at 8:30 a.m.
Interment: St. Mary Cemetery

Berta A. Villarreal Ramirez, age 90, matriarch of the Villarreal {Ramirez} family, died peacefully on Saturday April 21st, 2018, at 3:10 pm, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and joined her husband Salvador, for whom she longed since his death.

Born on December 7th, 1927, to Higinio & Carolina Villarreal, Berta was one of 11 children. Shortly after she was born, her family moved to Monterrey, Mexico. Later, her family migrated to Illinois to make Chicago their permanent home. It would be several years before Berta would meet the man who would be her husband, Salvador. They would raise eight children together. Berta also worked hard outside the home, and after many years she retired from Time-Life. Berta and Sal saved enough to build their retirement home at what would become Grandchildren’s Lake in Russellville, Kentucky.

After Sal passed, Berta held strong and stayed in their home. It was years later that she built a smaller home and made the decision stay in Russellville. Berta worked hard to maintain a strong connection to Russellville, but she spent a good deal of time alone. When her doctor noticed her health was in decline, he suggested that she go stay with family for a few months or until she was able to get back on her feet. Unfortunately, that never happened, and she stayed her final few years of life in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Berta was not alone when she was welcomed to eternity. Blessed to be at her side was her daughter, Terry, and son-in-law, Reginald. During her time spent in Las Vegas, Berta was blessed to stay in touch with her loved ones near and far. Despite the distance, and regardless of time spent apart, Berta was and is loved by her family and friends around the world.

Through the ups and downs and lonely times that life brought, even if she may have considered it at times, Berta did not give up.

Berta was preceded in death by her parents, Higinio & Carolina Villarreal; brothers, Louis, Armando, Artemio, Joseph and lastly her loving brother, Hijinio Fernando Villarreal (4/27/12); great granddaughter, Clarissa Khuu; Grandson, Gale Christopher White (7/10/94).

Berta is survived by her siblings, all of whom she loved deeply and with whom shared a special bond until her passing. Richard C. Villarreal (Edelmira) Woodridge; Edward Villarreal, Plainfield; Vel Kosbab (Ken), MO; Anna Marie Arguijo, IL; Lucy Barbour (Ed), FL; and sister-in-law, Maria Soledad, Brookfield.

Her children: Ralph Ramirez (Mamie McDaniel), KY; Esperanza Villarreal, IL; Maria Ward, AZ; Linda Barry (Robert), FL; Gloria White, IL; Terry Weaver (Reginald), NV; Victor Ramirez (Renee), CA; Olga Crabtree, KY

Her grandchildren: Kim Johnson (Steve), KY; Ruth Bailey, Chicago; Priscilla Villarreal, St. Louis; Rose Linwood (Richard), Plainfield; Eddie Villarreal, Las Vegas; Sara Glaser, TN; Sandra Sloniker, AZ; Robby Ward (Heena), AZ; Leon Wink (Joy), AL; Dr. Scott Wink ( Dr. Crystal), ID; Phillip Wink (Valerie), FL; M. Nicole White, Oswego; Thomas Weston Adams III, TX; Theresa Cobarrubio (Frank), CA; Joey Gulas (Mindy), CA; Brandon Crabtree (Catherine) KY; Miranda Crabtree, IN.
Her great-grandchildren: Jacob & Nicole Johnson, KY; Christina Aogus, IL; Jackie Andrea, AZ; Jonathan Khuu, CA; Mary Ellen Villarreal, IL; Ryan, Tarah, & Juliana Linwood, all of Plainfield; MJ, Anna, & Mia Glaser, TN; Sierra, Whitney & Megan Sloniker, AZ; Kingston & Judah Wink, Alabama; Bryce & Porter Wink, ID; Eden & Ezra Wink, FL; Alexis & Daniel Cobarrubio, CA; Brianne, Catlin, Marian, Rachel, Gabriel, Issah, Ezra, Luke, & Nathan, all of CA: Avram, Abby, & Amelia Crabtree, all of KY. Berta also had five great-great-grandchildren!

Berta had friends and family all over the world and maintained strong connections at home in Russellville. She appreciated all the trips planned & traveled, the visits long & short, the delicious meals, and the gorgeous floral arrangements sent to celebrate her 90th birthday. Berta was thankful for the unending and unselfish love and understanding shown by everyone who reached out to her while she was in Las Vegas, even when she wasn’t well enough to speak or visit. Berta was especially thankful for her nieces and nephews and their children, never forgetting her endless list of cousins in Mexico, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Illinois, and throughout the US, who stayed in close touch with her these last 4½ years Great-niece, Jessica, age three, during her visits, would run to the bottom of the stairs to help her Great-Aunt. She’d reach her arms out and yell, “Come on, I got ya. Berta was ever so thankful for the helping hand.

The Ramirez and Villarreal families thank the wonderful hard-working staff of Nathan Adelson Hospice (In-patient Care, Swenson). Dr. K. Adams; Nurses Kim, Tess, Shea, & Chantel; Social Worker Patty G.; and CNAs Heidi, Jade, & Olivera who took extra special care of Berta. Also, a special thank you to Dr. TJ MacAllen. We’ll never forget you guys.

Funeral Monday, May 7, 2018 8:30 a.m. from Salerno’s Galewood Chapels, 1857 N. Harlem Avenue, Chicago, 60707 to Ascension Catholic Church, 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park IL 60304, Mass 9:30 a.m. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL. Visitation Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.