Bertha Segundo Obituary

Bertha San Segundo passed away Sunday October 1st, 2023. She meets the love of her life Angel and her middle son Pedro in heaven. She is survived by her son's Angelo and Carlos, her son-in-law Roger, her daughter-in-law Beth, and her Grandchildren Madeline and Sebastian. She was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, a Tia, a friend, but more than that she was a blessing to all who knew her. She was born, Bertha De Lugo Arenas, in Harlingen, Texas on September 16th, 1945, she moved to NYC with her family in her early teens. She was studying at the University of Ole Miss when she met the love of her life in her family home as he had a meeting with her father. They felt an instant connection and began writing each other as he was in New York and she was away at University. He didn't speak English and she didn't speak Spanish, they learned from each other via love letters. The end of that semester she packed up all of her possessions and met Angel first at the train station and then went home to ask for permission to marry. It was granted on the condition that she finish her degree. She went on to get a Masters in Counseling. She was a pastors' wife in the Presbyterian church for 30 years. She was also a high school spanish teacher and a high school counselor. She worked at the local community college teaching there as well. She maintained a beautiful home full of love and vibrant with life. She sang in the choir, danced in the shower, and generally embraced each day with expectant joy. She loved God deeply and knew his love to her core. She was a heart full of joy and a light spirit on a bad day. She could make you feel better with just a simple smile. She spoke truth both when easy but always when hard. You never doubted her words. She was funny and always up for playful humor. She enjoyed her boys shenanigans and they loved it everytime she called them Tontos. They often pushed her to that just for the reaction. She rejoiced with those that rejoiced and counseled as if every person was the most important one she had ever met. She gave blessings at the end of every call. She thrived on her families successes and loved even the smallest details in someones day. She could patiently listen on the phone to her sons recount their days at work and would always end the call with God be with you. Her home was warm with love and rich with delicious food. Her grandchildren talk about Nana rice and beans for the delicacy that is was not the staple it was in her home. She loved to try new recipes and her secret ingredient was always love. Her cooking was a la mano but always delicious, she would teach you with phrases like salt it like the sea, or just a dash of that, she knew on sight what was just right for every dish. Though she would often tell the story of spending several days over a stove, cooking for a hoard of people for a special event, and making everything only to have everyone compliment just the bread from the ShopRite. She found that story hilarious. Her daughter in law once called her in new Jersey for an icing recipe (that Carlos wanted) only to be told by Bertha that she had no idea she wasn't Julia Child! Her legacy lives on in her surviving sons and her sweet grandbabies. Please join us to honor Bertha's legacy on Monday October 9th at 10am for services at Harrell Funeral Home at 4435 Frontier Trail Austin, TX 78745. There will be a viewing and slide show from 9-10am, the services will be from 10-11, and graveside there after Onion Creek Memorial Park 11610 Chapel Ln, Austin, TX 78748.