We knew Bertha since way back in the day.  When my parents would still run us to Six Flags every summer. I'd say at least  15 years ago. We (my brother, sister and myself) would look forward to every Christmas when Bertha and Walter lived caddy corner from us on East 4th Street. Bertha and Walter would bring over a gift bag for each of us. After a couple of years, mom and dad and Sandi, Nene, and myself, we knew what was in them.  But it became a tradition to receive our bag. This bag consisted of gloves, socks, a cap, and treats to eat. The fact that they would give these to us even though we were not related made them our best friends and honored tio and tia. They did not stop there even after I got married and even after I had my two boys Bertha included them in the special bags for Christmas.  It was a Bertha thing and she loved doing this. She made you feel like family. As the years went on the bags would still show up every Christmas, pretty much til Buster passed away. I miss Bertha's Christmas bags because she did not look at it as something she had to do. But, a chance to make sure we were going to be warm and safe during the colder weather. She shared her love with us always. She will truly be missed.