Esther Cruz

Mrs. Esther Cruz (nee Cerna), a strong and loving wife and mother who devoted her life to family and friends, died peacefully in Othello, Washington on Dec. 10, 2022, with loved ones at her side. At the age of 96, Esther, who has been preceded in death by her husband Fausto and daughter Mary, is survived by sons John, and his wife Carol, Daniel, and his wife Kathy, Joe and his wife Peggy, and Richard, along with dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will miss her cheerful smile, hearty cooking, joyful laughter and sincere kindness. Esther was the youngest of 13 siblings, born to Tomás and Felicitas Cerna on July 28, 1926, in Minitare, Nebraska. She and Fausto were married in 1946 in Pasco, Washington and raised their family in various towns in central Washington. In the Moses Lake area, the Cruzes settled into the farming community, saw their daughter and boys marry and have their own kids, frequented wrestling matches and baseball games and maintained a garden large enough to sell truckloads of corn, beans, and raspberries at the farmers market. In addition to being a regular parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima, Esther was a friendly face behind the grocery deli counter for many years and an active volunteer at the senior center. Going into town with “Grandma Esther” was sure to involve numerous spontaneous conversations with people passing in the aisles, as she was well-known and respected by many.