Bertha Soto

December 5, 2020

Our beloved mother, Bertha Rose Esparza Soto, age 80, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 5, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alejandro and Herlinda Esparza; her husband, Jose Soto Sr.; son, Joe Soto Jr.; brothers, Albert and Armando Esparza. Bertha will be deeply missed by her children: Alex Soto of Seattle, WA; Manuel Soto Sr. of Austin, TX; Abel (Denise) Soto of Kentwood, MI; Sylvia (Theodore) Soto-Aguilar of Walker, MI; Dolores Soto of Walker, MI; Jesse (Heidi) Soto Sr. of Allendale, MI; and Priscilla (Darcy) Soto of Seattle, WA. She also leaves behind 20 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers, Alex Esparza Sr., Jesse Esparza Sr., of Grand Prairie, TX; sisters, Margarita (John) Thurston of St. Charles, MO; Judy (Isauro) Maldonado and Rose Marie (Jerry) Sergura, both of Austin, TX; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Lopez of Dallas, TX and Guadalupe Marie Esparza of Grand Prairie, TX, all of whom she loved and touched deeply. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 10, 11 am at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 3138 Birchwood SW, Wyoming, 49548 with Fr. Steven Cron officiating. Burial Kent Memorial Gardens. Relatives and friends may meet the family Wednesday from 6-8 pm with a Rosary service at 8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to St. Joseph the Worker Parish.

Visitation: Wednesday, December 9 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Visitation
Wednesday, December 9
6:00pm - 8:00pm

MKD - Grandville
4145 Chicago Dr. SW
Grandville, MI 49418
Get Directions

Phone: (616) 534-8656

Mass: Thursday, December 10 | 11:00am

Mass
Thursday, December 10
11:00am

St. Joseph the Worker
225 32nd Street SW
Wyoming, MI 49548
Get Directions

Leave Your Tribute Message

December 28, 2020

I remember Bertha Soto when she became a member of the Sisters of Mercy Associates in Farmington Hills, MI. She was such a pleasant person to be associated with and to see her at meetings. She was committed to her promises as an Associate. God bless you Bertha, and may you rest in the love of our God. Sr. Elaine

- Elaine Sova, RSM

December 10, 2020

Always a pleasure to see you when I would see you in Texas or Michigan. The distance nor time never mattered, you always made me feel welcome and as if a day never passed. You will be missed and my heart is broken. Your legacy will live on forever. Love- Amalia (Maya)

- Amalia Ambriz

December 09, 2020

Tia Bertha you will be missed here on earth by all your loved ones. You are now in a better place and we will see you soon. Love, prayers and my condolences.

- Angie Esparza Martinez

December 09, 2020

Aunt Birdie you will be missed. Thank you for always being there for us. We love you so much. Praying for all the family. Love from Texas. The Leiss Family.

- Joey,Elissa,Avery,Channing& Tiana

December 09, 2020

Aunt Birdie my heart is shattered to hear of your passing. I pray for my cousins strength at this time in need. I love you all dearly. Lori our next vacation will not be the same without Tia but we sure have some fond memories. To my Tia’s & Tio’s hugs to you all your Sister is in her Glory. God Bless us. The Faith is keeping us all. In his name I pray. Amen

- Elissa Leiss

December 09, 2020

I keep all the family in my thoughts and prayers I am so sorry for your loss. Your Mom was such a sweet caring person and will be deeply missed. My love to you all .

- Helen wagner

December 09, 2020

My sincere condolences to all the family. I met Bertha while a member of St. Joseph the Worker Church. What a lovely woman to know and grateful to have met her. Bertha was full of life, laughter, joy and had a beautiful smile. Her family was her heart and joy of her life! That happiness and laughter priceless! God’s comfort and the peace that passes all understanding. Christina Ledesma Burns

- Christina Ledesma Burns

December 09, 2020

Priscilla...we were so sad to hear of the passing of your Mother. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

- Jim & Diane King

December 09, 2020

Mother Hubbard, For my heart is broken, full of pain and sorrow (that explains the name you gave me; Dolores means sorrow.) As much as I thought I would be prepared for this day, Was I so very wrong! For my heart will never be the same. My Mom was my rock. Although Mom probably thought I was HER rock. MOM was, and still will be, an amazingly wonderful woman full of love without judgment and always had happiness for life. Growing up she didn't feel loved, although she made it up later in life. Always making sure her 8 children were loved in their own special way. No child was more special than the other. Any of Mom's children will say, they're Mom's favorite and she loved me more, but deep down in our hearts, we know Mom loved us all equally. I pray to God He gives me the strength I need to be at least half the woman my Mom was. I shall forever love, admire, and respect the beautiful woman my mom was and always will be to me. I am forever grateful for Bertha Rose Esparza Soto, my loving Mother. Mom, until we meet again, in Christ our Lord. Forever in my heart. Your loving daughter, Dolores Esparza Soto

- dolores soto

December 08, 2020

To my beloved mother (in law), You opened up your arms to me the minute I met you. Every person in your presence feels they are special and loved. God shown his love in you. You have been a blessing to my family and we are all better for it. God has welcomed you home in his loving arms, just as you welcomed me many years ago. To my wife, sisters and brothers, and nieces and nephews, my heart goes out to each and every one of you. May you all find peace and comfort at this time. I love you, Darcy

- Darcy

December 08, 2020

To one of my longest and closest friends Priscilla, my heart is with you right now. Your Mom is your anchor, your Northern Star, and I am so sorry she has passed. I hope you find peace knowing she is at rest with her Lord. I am blessed to have met your mom a few times when she visited Seattle. Her homemade tortillas, her laugh, and the way she razzed you. She sure loved you my friend. Always take that and her memory with you. SO MUCH love to you and your family. Love Bunny (Dawn)

- Bunny (Dawn)

December 08, 2020

To my brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces . We are all going through a great sense of loss, and our hearts are broken, and will never be the same, with the passing of our Beloved Mom and Grandmother . Within each of us, she left her greatest gift. Memories of her. Through these memories, we will continue to hear her laughter, see her smile, feel her guidance, her strength and yes her comfort. And in gatherings she will live on through our stories. She left us in the hands of each other, to get through this, together. She will lay and wait, till her Lord and Savior blows his horns, from the East, and wakes her from her sleep, to take her Home. The Lord will continue to give us the comfort and strength, which at this time we can't seem to grasp. And yes, in time ease our pain. Our Qween is at peace. Love you all, and already miss her deeply XOXO ♥ Sister/Mom/Nana/Aunt Sylvia

- Sylvia Aguilar

December 07, 2020

How very blessed such a beautiful soul ,so very sorry for your loss. May you find peace in your memories and know her beautiful smile will be there to greet you all when you are together again.

- Stehanie L Baker

December 07, 2020

My prayers for all the family on losing such a great soul and women, she was a good friend to my mother. May she Rest In Peace.

- Estelle Rodriguez

December 07, 2020

To all my nephews may the Lord give y'all strengthen, comfort, love and peace through this hard heart pulling time. I remember your mom's favorite words "Praise the Lord" and my beautiful sister is praising the Lord Amen to that. Love y'all Tia Rose and Tio Jerry

- Rose Segura

December 06, 2020

My deepest condolences to my cousins at the loss of your beloved mother. Tia Bertie was such a loving and caring aunt with such a huge heart. I will always remember Tia Bertie as a happy and cheerful person who always had a smile. Prayers and love to my cousins at this difficult time.

- Robert and Gina (Herrera) Cerda

December 06, 2020

So sorry for the loss of your Mother. So many wonderful stories we have heard about Mrs Soto. She will be missed 😢. We love the Soto Family.

- Alex and Gina Lares

December 06, 2020

My deepest sympathies for your loss. Remember the joy and be at peace - she is basking the the glory of the heavenly father now.

- David Clements

December 06, 2020

My dear, dear sister you will be missed. Although we lived a distance from one another you were always in my heart where you will remain till we meet again. My sweet nieces and nephews I am so, so sorry for your loss, I know you were all the source of her joy. I grieve with you and love you deeply. Tia.

- Margarita Thurston

December 06, 2020

Thank you for all you have done and showed me in life. Memories of u and the love u showed me will live on through the love I give to my children. Rest easy grandma until we meet again.

- Angelica Zuniga

December 06, 2020

My sweet Aunt Birdie, my heart is broken to know you are gone. May you Rest In Peace and walk in the light with the Lord and all of our family members in heaven. To my cousins, I love you all. May the Holy Spirit lift you all during this time and and always. Love, Chachi

- Angelica Jackson