Rebecca Cortinas Ortiz

She was born on November 8, 1931, in Austin, Texas, to Tomas and Aurelia Cortinas. She was the youngest of 8 children.

Rebecca married Frank Rodriguez Ortiz on March 31, 1951, in Austin Texas. They were blessed with 9 children (5 boys and 4 girls) which included 2 sets of fraternal twins. Rebecca and Frank celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on March 31, 2021.

Rebecca was especially proud of her education. She graduated from Austin High School then attended the University of Texas and received her certification as a Certified Nurses Assistant. Her first job opportunity was at Saint David’s hospital as a C.N.A. The remaining years of her career were spent as a private health caregiver. During this time, she became a Notary Public after passing a state-administered exam and received her commission certificate from the State of Texas.

She was a devout Catholic with great faith who attended mass regularly and sang in the church choir. Her faith was of the utmost importance so much that she strongly encouraged all family members to receive their sacraments. Her family, who knew and loved her as Nana, was the most important part of her life and she was devoted to them. Her husband along with the entire family loved listening to her sing hymns and watching her dance to Tejano music. She loved to travel - a favorite vacation spot was Las Vegas. Throughout the years, holiday and family celebrations were special to her because it was her greatest joy to have her family come together. Nana was a fun loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with a beautiful, free spirit.

Nana’s greatest gift was being a very loving and caring person, she opened her home to all and everyone was welcome. She lived life to the fullest in tirelessly giving of herself freely and lovingly, doing all that she could for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There was never a time that she wasn’t there for her family. This is the legacy of Rebecca Cortinas Ortiz’s life that will be with us forever.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Tomas and Aurelia Cortinas; brothers - Tomas Jr., Marty, Richard, and Jose; sisters - Mary and Candelaria.

Nana is survived by her beloved husband, Frank Ortiz, Sr., 9 children - Sylvia Calderon and her husband, Henry, Frank Ortiz, Jr. and his wife, RoxAnn, Richard Ortiz, Diane Robinson and her husband Terry, Daniel Ortiz and his wife Carmen, Albert Ortiz, Annette Evans and her husband Hiroshi, Anthony Ortiz and his wife Mary Alice, and Veronica Tello, 20 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and her brother, Henry Cortinas.

Pallbearers are beloved grandsons: Louis Guerrero, Luke Guerrero, Derek Evans, Daniel Tello Jr., Aaron Ortiz, Jonathan Ortiz, Nicholas Ortiz

Honorary Pallbearer: Michael Cortez

Special thanks to Bertha Diaz and Francisca Oyervides for their tender loving care of Nana. In addition, thanks to Home Health Hospice.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ATTENDING IN PERSON: Doors open at 2:30pm.

Temperature checks required on everyone upon arrival. MASKS required on everyone (including children) to attend and throughout the funeral service at San Jose Catholic Church. (gloves optional, masks provided). Church ushers will assist everyone to be seated upon their arrival, according to social distancing rules. Mr. Ortiz and the entire family appreciate your love and cooperation, during this difficult and MOST challenging time in our family, as well as American history. Only immediate family (limit 10) and pallbearers permitted to accompany the deceased.

FOR THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON, the funeral mass will be broadcast live through Facebook and YouTube. On YouTube, just search for sanjosechurch.org then subscribe then you can share the link. On Facebook you can do the same, and even create a watch party.