Bertha D'Amico

Bertha D'Amico, 91, passed away on June 11, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born June 13, 1920, in Pittsburgh (Greenfield), Pennsylvania, daughter to the late Andrew and Anna (Harbulya) Borsh of Plechotice, S. Eastern Slovakia, formerly Czechoslovakia and beloved wife of 63 years to the late Attilio G. D'Amico Jr. Bertha and Attilio were married on April 3, 1944 at the St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bertha graduated from Taylor Alderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She worked at the Heinz pickle factory, Treasure Island (retail store) and at G.C. Murphy. Bertha was a great cook and enjoyed preparing Italian and Slovak recipes. She was a caring mother and grandmother. But most of all she loved dancing with Attie and being his wife. Bertha was preceded in death by her sisters Mary Steese, Helen Yalch, Anna Rehak and Margaret Blank, and brother Andrew (Abe) Borsh, all of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bertha is survived by her son Robert (Laraine) G. D`Amico of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughters Linda (William) Anderson of Wexford, Pennsylvania and Donna (Harry) Morrison of Greensburg, Pennsylvania; granddaughters Christine (Ryan) Fabry of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Alana Anderson of Hatfield, Pennsylvania; grandson Ryan (Jessica) Campbell and great-grandson Aidan Campbell all from Ft. Hood, Texas. She is also survived by her brother George (Eleanore) Borsh of Dunedin, Florida. Bertha will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, daughter and homemaker who always placed her family’s needs first. There will be a visitation and reception held on Friday, June 15, 2012 starting at 9:00am with a funeral service from 10:00 am to noon all at Palm Mortuary Eastern.

BERTHA'S EULOGY

Mom’s Eulogy – Remembering Mom June 15 2012

(Donna) We had a happy childhood. Our parents were always there for us and provided a loving and stable home. Mom and Dad lived 10 years in each home: Olivant Street in the East End, Harvest Drive in Penn Hills, Irwin, and Las Vegas -10 years for Dad, 15 for Mom. They saved money very well building 3 new homes. Mom was a skilled homemaker, making sure we were all happy.

(Donna) Mom (and Dad) lived through difficult times with the Great Depression when they were children. When we were young, there were tough times also, as Dad was on strike sometimes when he worked for Blawnox Steel and US Steel. Always, Mom made healthy meals for us, and bought us fashionable clothes. She worked outside the family at Treasure Island, G.C. Murphy, to help support the family. We were happy and secure. We loved her spaghetti and meatballs, Dad’s favorite meal.

(Donna) I remember Mom walking Linda and me to Kindergarten and to Corpus Christi, our grade school. Mom and Dad wanted their children to have a Catholic education, and it cost more than public school. But they found the money. Mom used her income from her retail jobs to help pay for our prom gowns. Mom and Dad wanted us to go to college. Also, she paid all the household bills. Mom and Dad were always very thrifty.

(Linda) Also, Mom processed all the financial aid forms for us to attend college. Mom and Dad saved money to help pay tuition and other costs. She was most happy to be surrounded by her family-the Borshs and Dad’s family, the D’Amicos. Bob, Linda and I remember spending Sundays at the D’Amicos in Bloomfield with our aunts and uncles and cousins. Great food, good times. Laughter. And a lot of times our Italian grandparents would speak in Italian to each other.

(Linda) Aunt Ann, Mom’s sister, lived in Greenfield, Pittsburgh and made the Slovak foods we liked with her daughter Betty Milcheck. We visited Aunt Ann during Easter. Her brother Uncle George and Aunt Eleanore, and Cousins Donna and Ronnie also lived in Greenfield. Family ties were important to Mom and Dad.

(Donna) After Mom and Dad moved to Hawaii and then, LV, we saw Mom and Dad less frequently, but Bob and Laraine opened their home to us so that we could visit. My son Ryan celebrated his first birthday in Mililani. Ryan and I visited each summer for 5 days and Mom and Dad visited us each October, staying with Donna and Harry at their home in Latrobe and also with Bill and Linda at their home at Bernice Drive. I remember when Dad visited us in Latrobe with Alana and Linda and we all went rollerblading! Even Dad. Ryan was about 8. Alana so enjoyed those visits. Mom was unable to make the last two visits due to her knee replacements.

Alana Ryan and Christine always enjoyed visiting with each other and especially when they were young children. Ryan and Jess, thanks for your visit with Grandma with Aidan in 2008. She enjoyed that. Mom and Dad especially enjoyed it when we were all together.

I also remember when Mom and Dad were visiting one yr and Alana was 2, and Mom and Dad babysat Alana while Linda and Bill were attending a 3 day conference. I think Mom really enjoyed that.

(Donna) When Christine was young Grandma hung out with her every day after school and Christine helped GMA to make dinner. While they waited for dinner to cook, Grandma taught Christine how to play poker so Christine would be able to play the machines with her when she turned 21. Even now when Christine meets people who grew up in LV and they don’t know how to play poker, Christine tells her friends that her Grandma taught her how to play poker and remembers this fondly.

(Donna) Our parents enjoyed our visits to Nevada. When they bought the house in 1997 they wanted to make sure that it had 2 extra bedrooms so that when Linda and Donna visited, they would have room to stay.

Ryan especially liked visiting Uncle Bob, Aunt Laraine, and his cousin Christine. We have so many special memories of our summers in Vegas when our children were younger. Bob made arrangements for us to see Siegfried and Roy, when Dad was ill with Rheumatoid Arthritis about 1990. Ryan and Christine saw and touched the white tigers in front row seats at The Mirage. Dad was sick but still was interested in being with his family. Bob made sure that his family had fun when we visited. Mom appreciated all that Bob did over the years, even though she may not have communicated it often. No parents could ask for a more devoted son.

(Linda) On occasion Linda and I visited at the same time, went to Bingo with Mom and Dad, and enjoyed the casinos and shows with them. Mom and Dad treasured each visit as we did.

(Linda) Bob always made sure that Mom and Dad had fun. They Toured Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, Bryce and Zion National Park and Death Valley.

(Linda) Bob, Laraine, Christine, Mom and Dad and Donna made a trip to Kauai in the summer of 2005 which was timely considering the fact that their health would decline shortly after. But they always were able to gamble at Samstown, their second home. Mom loved Bingo, and after Dad passed in 2007, Bob, Laraine, Christine and her husband Ryan made sure she got to Bingo every Sunday. Linda and I visited often and when there, took her to Bingo. As Mom’s health declined, Bob and his family were always there to provide support and love. Christine, and Ryan, Christine’s husband, have been a blessing to this family. Thank you, Christine for staying overnight with Grandma on Mondays. Bob spent many Sundays with Grandma after Dad passed away. And Christine’s husband, Ryan, you have always been generous and kind to Christine’s Grandma.

(Donna) Once when I visited Mom started talking at night. She was ecstatic, as if she were dreaming at a party and then being with Dad. She missed him so much. I am sure they are now dancing in heaven as they did in their youth in Bloomfield.

(Donna) We know she is happier now, no discomfort, able to walk again hand in hand with Dad. Smiling. They just loved being together.

(Donna) We remember Mom and Dad for their kindness and love, but also for their resiliency, tenacity, perseverance, qualities of the Greatest Generation.

Mom and Dad: We will miss you and love you dearly.

From their two favorite songs:

“As Time Goes By” and "I'll Be Seeing You In All The Old Familiar Places"

Dad loved to sing it.

You must remember this

A kiss is still a kiss

A sigh is still (just) a sigh

The fundamental things apply

As time goes by.

"I’ll Be Seeing You in All the Old Familiar Places"

I'll be seein you in all the old familiar places

I'll find you in the morning sun

And when the night is new

I'll be looking at the moon

But I'll be seeing you.