The Brownsville Herald - Online Edition Obituaries - June 25, 2006 BERTHA C. ORTEGA, 81, of Rio Hondo, Texas, passed away on June 24, 2006, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. Funeral arrangements are pending and entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, (956) 399-1331. ARMY PFC. KRISTIAN MENCHACA "Forever Our Hero" Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, entered into eternal rest with the Lord, while he was serving our country in Yusufiyah, Iraq. Kristian was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Roberto Vasquez Nava. Kristian is survived by his loving wife, Christina. Among the survivors are his mother, Maria Guadalupe Vasquez; his stepfather, Sergio A. Vasquez; brother Julio Cesar Vasquez; his aunts, Julieta Vasquez of Houston, Texas, Francisca Vasquez, Maria de los Angeles Vasquez and Patricia Yolanda Vasquez of Matamoros, Maria Elena Garcia, Mario Vasquez, both of Houston, Texas; uncles Roberto Vasquez Jr. of Harlingen, Texas, Manuel Vasquez of Brownsville, and Jose Guajardo of Guadalajara. Kristian enlisted into the Army on March 2005. He did his basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia, and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He attended Sharp and Burns Elementary in Brownsville and Lamar Elementary in Houston. He attended Vela Middle School, Porter High School and Eagle Charter in Brownsville and Alta Charter in Houston. Kristian enjoyed playing basketball, pool and fishing with his friend. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a holy rosary to be celebrated by Father Alfonso Guevara at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at Brownsville Event Center. Visitation will continue from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at Brownsville Event Center. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Bishop Raymundo Peña at 10 a.m. at the Brownsville Event Center. Committal service to follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Funeral services have been entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, cemeteries, mausoleums and crematory, 125 McDavitt Blvd., Brownsville, Texas, 78521 (956) 541-5400. The Brownsville Herald 1135 E. Van Buren Brownsville, TX 78520 956-542-4301 1-800-488-4301 © 2000 The Brownsville Herald