Obituary of Hermelinda Ortiz

Hermelinda Ortiz, cherished mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, graduated into heaven on Sunday, February 11, 2024. She passed peacefully in her daughters home in Meridian, Idaho. 

 

Hermelinda, “Millie”, was born on August 27, 1938 in Reynosa Mexico to her parents Juan and Genoveva Mendoza. She was the first of 11 children. She often spoke of her childhood in Mexico and although her family had very little, she always spoke of how happy they were just to be together. She loved being with family. After graduating in Mexico, she helped teach math in a neighborhood school. Shortly after, she met and married Pio Ortiz in 1963. Pio moved Millie to Texas where they started their family soon thereafter. Together they had five children. In 1994 Millie became a US citizen, something she was very proud of. She loved the American flag and was always proud to say she was a US citizen. 

 

Millie spent many years working in farm labor and several as a caregiver. Though she enjoyed working and making a living for her family, what she was best known for was her love of Jesus and her love of people. She loved to worship and was never afraid to share Jesus with anyone. She’d raise her hand anywhere, on a plane, at a doctor’s office or in a restaurant and she’d say, “Thank you Jesus.” Millie was dedicated more than anything to her family. She loved being with her children and grandchildren. She loved knitting, which she learned from her sister, Lala. She loved flowers. She loved taking pictures. She enjoyed cooking and giving friends and family home made salsa and flour tortillas. Many of her doctors were blessed by her cooking as well. We are forever grateful for the legacy she’s left behind. 

 

Millie lived her best life up until the very end. She loved camping, boating, traveling and just doing anything anyone invited her to do. We can’t forget to mention her love of Mexican bingo, loteria! She did not like losing even if the stakes were only 5 cents a card.

 

Hermelinda is preceded in death by her parents, Juan and Genoveva Mendoza; her husband, Pio Ortiz; four brothers: Jose, Miguel, Florencio and Javier Mendoza and her beloved first born, Oliver Ortiz. 

 

She is survived by daughters: Irasema Boyance, Sandra Rodriguez and her husband Raul, Mirelda Ortiz, Mary Johnson and her husband Mike, as well as her siblings: Rebecca, Oralia, Rigo, Fernando, Noe and Juan Mendoza, Blanca Orozco and Amalia Escobedo. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. 

 

Days before her passing, she was living in anticipation of wrapping her arms around Jesus first, then her son, Oliver, and family members that had already made heaven their home. Although her family misses her terribly, we take comfort in knowing she’s rejoicing in the heavens with her savior. May we all live with that anticipation of glory and a heart filled with gratitude the way Millie lived. 

 

Celebration of Life services will be as followed: 

IDAHO

Saturday, March 2, 2024

3:00pm

River City Church

7540 W. Northview St

Boise, ID

 

TEXAS

Saturday, March 23, 2024

1:00pm

Templo Emanuel

1326 Felix St

Alamo, TX

 

PLEASE WEAR RED IN HER HONOR

 

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