Bertha Duany vda. de Valls

DUANY vda. de VALLS BERTHA, 89, originally from Santiago de Cuba died peacefully at her home in Miami on June 22, 2002. Bertha grew up in Santiago where she attended Sacred Heart School until she went to live in New York with her family. There she met and married Dr. Nicolas Valls. They went back to Santiago to live where both her sons were born. She was widowed at age 26. She never remarried but dedicated herself to raising her children and accompanying her elderly parents in Havana and in-laws in Santiago with whom she lived alternatively over the years. Bertha was only able to come to Miami with her parents in the late 60's to join the rest of her relatives after having to wait for 7 years for the approval of the Cuban government. Having graduated from the School of Pedagogy at the University of Havana, Cuba, she taught for many years at the Columbus School in Havana. In Miami, she worked as an elementary teacher at the Epiphany School in South Miami until she retired at age 65. Subsequently, she spent her years living abroad with her son, Jorge and family until she came back to live permanently in Miami in 1990. Bertha is survived by her loving sons, Nicolas and his wife, Dolores, Jorge and his wife, Matilde; her sisters, Olga and her husband Arturo, Mary and her husband, Luis, Ivette widow of Raul, her sister-in-law, Teresa Valls, 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren as well as other relatives all of whom will miss her dearly. All her friends and relatives are invited to a Memorial Mass to be held at St. Brendan Catholic Church at 8725 SW 32nd St. on Saturday, July 6, 2002 at 11:00 a.m.