Bertha Olga Casarez

Bertha Olga Casarez, known as “Olga” to her friends and family, was born in El Paso, Texas to her parents Primitivo Martinez and Adela Molinar on January 2, 1930. Olga later moved to Salinas, California, where she attended and graduated from Salinas High School. While attending Salinas High School, Olga met her “one and only” future husband, Joe. Joe and Olga married in Salinas and later relocated with their two daughters Linda and Diana to Fresno, California due to Joe’s work. Joe was offered the opportunity to work in either Los Angeles or Fresno. Joe and Olga chose the Central Valley because they believed it would be a better place to raise a family.

While in Fresno, Joe had a successful career in retail management and later, with the Internal Revenue Service, while Olga worked part time in a variety of positions, including working at a nursery school and retail sales. Olga’s greatest calling though was as a mother. She loved and doted on her older children Linda and Diana, as well as her younger children born in Fresno, Esther and Joey. Olga loved to support her children’s growth, learning, and was a frequent volunteer at their schools and their church.

Olga was a woman of faith. She believed strongly in helping others, volunteering, and being part of the community, especially at St. John’s Cathedral or the Shrine of St. Therese. Olga never met a stranger. People were instantly drawn to her. It was not uncommon for a complete stranger to meet Olga and within minutes feel compelled to share their entire life story, while she listened attentively. As a person who strongly believed in the need to serve others, Olga found her professional calling by working for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Migrant Education Program and Fresno Unified’s Career Technical Education Program. She cared deeply for her students and when her husband Joe passed at age 60, she worked with family and friends to establish the Joe L. Casarez Memorial Scholarship at Duncan Polytechnic High School.

Olga was preceded in death by her husband, Joe L. Casarez, her daughter Linda Casarez, her sister Gloria Mendevil, and her brother Richard Martinez. She is survived by her daughter Diana Garduque and her husband Joseph Garduque of Fresno, CA; daugher Esther Nitschke and her husband Steven Nitschke of Madera, CA, and her son Joe Casarez and his wife Jennifer Casarez of Clovis, CA. “Granny Olga” is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Adela Rabson, Paul Garduque, and Julia Garduque of Fresno, CA; Frances Nitschke-Hair and her husband Jared of Plano, TX; Joe Nitschke and his wife Alexandra of Fort Drum, NY; Anna Nitschke-Ibarra and her husband Daniel of Madera, CA; Trinity and Joey Casarez of Clovis, CA; and her great grandchildren.

Olga’s family would like to sincerely thank the management and staff of Truewood by Merrill Assisted Living Facility as well as the doctors, nurses, social workers and other care givers from Hinds Hospice. The loving care provided truly eased Olga’s passing and was a blessing to the family during a very challenging time.

A Rosary will be held at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, Fresno, CA and a mass of Catholic burial will be at 10:00 AM Thursday, March 7, 2024 at St. Paul Newman Center in Fresno, CA.

Memorial donations may be made to Nancy Hinds Hospice and the Joe L. Casarez Memorial Scholarship Fund at Duncan Polytechnical High School (Fresno Unified School District).

A visitation for Bertha will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA 93720 followed by the Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial Funeral Service will take place on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul Newman Center, 1572 E Barstow Ave, Fresno, CA 93710 followed by a Committal Graveside Service at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, 264 N Blythe Ave, Fresno, CA 93706 immediately after the funeral mass.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Casarez family.