Berta Cristina Martin de Nicolas de Moya

Berta Cristina Martín de Nicolás de Moya, age 94, of Austin, born in Santiago de Cuba on July 24, 1930, was called to heaven in the late hours of Saturday, December 14, 2024. She was the daughter of Juan de Moya, a Cuban doctor and Secretary of Health for Cuba, and Concepción Fernández Mascaró, her Cuban mother. Her parents had a deep appreciation for education and ensured Berta had the opportunity to attain higher education in the United States. Berta graduated with honors with a BS from Manhattanville College and an MS from Teachers College at Columbia University. In 1960, she became an exile fleeing Fidel Castro’s communist takeover of Cuba and left for the United States with her husband Arturo and two young sons. The family later lived in Chile, and Costa Rica, returning to the United States in 1980. In 1986 Berta became a U.S. citizen following her parents’ example and was proud to be a U.S. citizen by choice. She enjoyed classical music, reading, and helping others, but most of all she loved being a mother. Despite her academic success, Berta dedicated herself to raising her four sons throughout their formative years. As an empty nester, she went back to school to get her MS in Teaching Spanish as a second language at Winthrop College in South Carolina and taught Spanish for 7 years at two elementary schools in Kannapolis, North Carolina in an immersive environment she developed, graduating an elementary class she had taught since kindergarten. Señora Martín, as she was known, was a favorite of many of her students.

She is survived by sons Arturo, Juan, Jorge and Pedro; grandchildren Andres, Alex and Paulina; great grandson Adam; and her nephews, nieces and cousins across the United States.

The family will receive guests for a memorial visitation on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. A celebration of Berta's life will follow at 7:00 PM in the funeral home chapel. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5455 Bee Caves Rd, West Lake Hills, Texas 78746. A reception will follow the mass.

In-lieu of flowers, Berta wanted to honor her parents' appreciation for education by setting up a scholarship fund at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in her parents name “Dr. Juan and Concha de Moya Scholarship Fund”. Checks are appreciated and can be sent to:

San Juan Diego Catholic School, 2512 South 1st Street, Austin, TX 78704.