Bertha Dahlhoff, 92, of Covington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 14, 2014. She was a life-long caregiver and moral compass to the Bruggen family, adopting and mentoring her sister-in-law Margie’s children after her death in 1949. Under the care of Bertha and her husband, Ray, each of the six children went on to build happy lives and families of their own, and they are eternally grateful for her love and guidance.
The only daughter in a family of boys, Bertha (or “Bert” to many) developed a quick wit and boldness that established her as a equal to her brothers in 1920’s and ’30’s. That uncompromising spirit, further forged by a youth in the Depression and World War II-era, served her well as she held together her family through mostly thin times, to see them each establish themselves on firmer ground.
Bertha was a stranger to no one, still making new friends into her 90’s, often mining her excellent memory to make connections to the parents and grandparents of her new acquaintances. She loved to share stories of her Northern Kentucky and “Cincinnata” past, bringing her near-century of experience to guide and enlighten the lives of her many, many admirers and loved ones.
Bert was preceded in death by her husband Raymond.
Survivors include her nieces, Jo Ann (Michael) York of Bloomington, Indiana, Virginia (the late Terry) Wessner of Villa Hills and Pat (the late Richard) Weber of Covington; brother, Robert Schwartz of Trenton, Michigan; nephews, Edward Schwartz of Gaylord, Michigan and John Paul Bruggen of Florence; nieces, Lisa Lewis of Winter Springs, Florida, Doris Cuthbert of Essexville, Michigan and Margaret Bond of Burlington.
Visitation is Thursday, September 18, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Covington. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 12:00 Noon at St. Joseph Church, Crescent Springs. Interment at St. John Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Covington is serving the family.