Bernabe "Berna" Montanez Gomez

June 11, 1926 - September 15, 2023

"We are because you were"

In the early morning hours of September 15 in Rocky Ford, Berna was called home by her Heavenly Father. She was 97 years old. Berna was born in Dawson, NM on June 11, 1926 to Francisco & Estefana (Aguilar-Florez) Montañez and she was one of 6 siblings. Berna attended school at Dawson High School in New Mexico where she received her high school diploma. Berna later went on to marry David C. Gomez of La Junta in Ft. McPhearson, GA. Together they had 5 children: Cathy (Ray) Maestas of Rocky Ford, Sandra Salas of La Junta, David (Patricia) Gomez of Yuma, AZ, Michael Gomez of La Junta, Steven Gomez of Pueblo.

For those who were blessed with the opportunity to know Berna they got to know a woman with a beautiful soul, a loving heart, who was very proud of her independence, and had courage and determination to achieve her goals or to stand up for what she believed in. Berna's greatest achievement was not only being a mother but also being a grandmother to 12 grandchildren: Greg (Jessica) Salas of La Junta, Aaron (Consuello) Salas of Denver, Patrick Salas of La Junta, James (Maria) Maestas of Pueblo, Michael (Angela) Maestas of Pueblo, Matthew (Tashuana) Maestas of La Junta, Christel (Nicholas) Hickey of Denver, Leandra (Dustin) Covey of Yuma, AZ, Brittney Gomez of Yuma, AZ, Cherea Navarro of Rocky Ford, Whitley (Juan) Guadarrama of San Diego, CA Stevy Gomez of Rocky Ford. Berna was also blessed with 31 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren. She was the foundation to this big beautiful family, without her there would be no "us". Berna was preceded in death by her parents Francisco & Estefana Montanez, three brothers & three sisters, her baby granddaughter Saundra Marie Maestas in 1974.