Bertha Rodriguez

Life was not always easy for Bertha Rodriguez. Separated from family over and over again, she learned to rely on her own inner strength. From an orphanage in suppressive Cuba to the independence of Holland, Michigan, Bertha became a loving wife, mother and grandmother. A true journey of love and devotion.

Cuba in 1926 was under the rule of Gerardo Machado y Morales, not much different from today. But the Cuba of 1926 was the setting for two births, one that would bring more pain and hardship to an entire country, and one that would bring hope and compassion to one family. Fidel Castro was born on August 13, 1926, while in Havana on November 7, 1926, Bertha Rodriguez was born to Nicolas and Sara Ique.

Nicolas and Sara were the parents of daughter Olga and the family looked forward to the birth of their second child. But the joy of Bertha’s birth was overshadowed by the death of Sara at childbirth. Life in 1926 Cuba was difficult, and with Olga old enough to support herself, baby Bertha was placed in a Catholic orphanage, run by a cloistered order of nuns. Although the nuns had no contact with the outside world, visitors to the orphanage were always welcomed. From the strict life values taught by the nuns to the warm visits from her sister, Bertha developed a sense of family and belonging. In later years, Bertha often reminisced about the visits from her sister and the items of love that she would bring.

Bertha received her education in the orphanage. Not the formal education of today but an education that prepared young girls with the life skills necessary for a young girl to survive. She learned to read and write, but also learned the more “practical” skills of sewing, cooking, and caring for a family. In 1940, at the age of 14, the maximum allowable age for residence in the orphanage, Bertha found herself on her own. Moving to Havana to live with her Aunt Carlota, Bertha found work doing housework for other families in the city. She did cleaning, ironing and cooking – a large responsibility for a young girl in her teens. With the skills learned in the orphanage, Bertha was able to help contribute to her board and room at her Aunt’s home, an aunt who provided the first contact with family other than her sister.

At some point in the early 1940s, Bertha met a young man named Pedro Antero Rodriguez, who also lived in Havana. After a period of time, the two were married around 1944, a marriage that was blessed with two children. Son Pedro Ivan was born in 1948 and daughter Marcia Angelina was born in 1956.

Life in Cuba was always in a state of unrest. Pedro was a city bus driver but also a body guard for government officials. Political tensions were at the boiling point and young people were expected to go to what we would call “military” school. Such was the fate of Bertha’s son, Pedro. Afraid of what the future might bring for their son, Bertha and her husband thought it would be best if young Pedro went to Miami to live with relatives. With her son only 12 years old, it was heartbreaking for Bertha to see him leave, and over the years, waited with eager anticipation for letters from her baby.

The political climate of Cuba did not improve in the ensuing years, and threats of arrest hung over the heads of people everywhere. Being a bodyguard for those in power, Bertha’s husband became a prime suspect. Learning that he was about to be arrested, Bertha and Pedro took their daughter and fled to the United States to join the family in Miami. Bertha recalled that she didn’t really feel safe until they were on the plane. They always knew they had gotten out of Cuba just in time.

The Rodriguez family landed in the United States in 1962, one year after the Bay of Pigs invasion. Like the other refugee families, neither Bertha nor Pedro could speak English, and all of their material items had been left in Cuba. But the best thing was that now they could be reunited with their son. Bertha’s husband was able to find work, but it was work that took him away from home, so again, Bertha was left to fend for herself. Teaching herself to speak English, her strong-willed nature allowed her to make the best of the situation. She relied on her housekeeping skills and was able to make some money to help support her family along with what Pedro earned.

But soon the influx of Cuban refugees into Miami made work scarce and it was necessary for Bertha and her family to move once again. Churches began sponsoring refugee families and the Bethany Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan was among them. With the support of the church, Bertha and her family were able to move to the Holland area, where Pedro found gainful employment to support his family. Always one to do her share, Bertha went to work for Chris Craft and then at Baker Furniture in their factory. As things improved, Bertha was able to stay at home to care for her family. However, she continued to keep herself busy with sewing and selling jewelry. And when grandson Ivan was born, Bertha’s new job was as full-time grandmother, a job she was delighted to do.

Her early days in the orphanage taught Bertha the value of family, and family became the most important thing in her life. Her main mission in life was to provide the best she could for her children and grandson every day of her life. As a survivor of difficult times, Bertha was determined to make her family’s days filled with joy.

After Pedro retired, he and Bertha were able to spend some time together. They felt a need to go back to Miami to visit family there, and even lived in the area for a while. However, tragedy struck in 1990 when Bertha’s cherished son Pedro passed away. Five years later, in 1995, Bertha suffered another heartbreak with the death of her beloved husband, Pedro.

Bertha decided to remain in Miami, staying until 2003. Having been diagnosed with COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Bertha moved back to west Michigan. Here she was reunited with her daughter-in-law Debra, and her new husband, Ruben, whom Bertha considered a son-in-law. Together with her grandson, Bertha was grateful to be back in Michigan, surrounded by family.

As her health deteriorated, Bertha was blessed to have the tender care of her grandson, Ivan. Having been his sole caregiver, Ivan thought of Bertha as his mother and gladly returned the love and devotion she had shown to him.

As difficult as her life had been, Bertha Rodriguez was always proud of her Cuban heritage. With a strength born of necessity, she became the dominant force in her family, always looking for ways to get ahead. Although Bertha will be deeply missed, her legacy of love and dedication leaves her loved ones with wonderful memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort.

Mrs. Bertha Rodriguez, aged 78 of Comstock Park and formerly of Holland passed away Friday March 18, 2005. She was preceded in death by her husband Pedro Antero Rodriguez and her son Pedro Ivan Rodriguez. Surviving are her daughter Marcia Angelina Rodriguez, her grandson Ivan Dibble and her daughter-in-law Debra A. (Ruben E.) Gaitan. Cremation has taken place. Please visit Bertha’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, sign the guest book or make a memorial donation. Arrangements by Van’t Hof Chapel of Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes (616 459 6137).