Berta Irena Roth

Berta Irena Roth (Babka) passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, leaving behind a beautiful family and legacy that she built throughout her 100 years. Berta was born in Uzhorod, the SW border of Ukraine, formerly a part of Czechoslovakia. Babka always spoke of her early childhood fondly and was so proud of the life her parents had built for her and her sister. Her parents owned a general store that supported the Jewish community, where you could often hear Yiddish, Russian and Hungarian languages, representing such liveliness within their community. That all began to change in the 1930s with the rise of antisemitism and her father did everything he could to protect his family, but the situation worsened in 1938. Her school was closed, her father was thrown out of his business and her family was required to wear yellow stars. In 1944, the family was put in a cattle car to Auschwitz and upon arrival, her parents were sent to the right, and Berta and her sister were sent to the left. That was the last time Berta ever saw her parents and despite the uncertainty that was ahead, Berta stayed strong for her sister as they faced the unimaginable. Berta and her sister Aurelia went to Camp C, Block 17, where the Germans cut their hair and gave them a jacket with a number. They slept five to a bed, they stood in a lineup from morning to evening, and those that could no longer physically stand were carried away. Berta’s strength and perseverance carried her through day by day. From Auschwitz, the sisters fought to stay together and spent days digging trenches for what is now the Frankfurt airport, while they searched for scraps of food the Germans threw out. They were then moved to their next camp, Ravensbruck, and finally were transferred to Mauthausen before the liberation. Aurelia did not survive Mauthausen, she was 20 years old. Berta lived each day honoring her memory and carrying forward the legacy of her family. Berta incredibly survived five concentration camps and was the only survivor from her entire extended family except for one aunt who later introduced Berta to her future husband, Hermann Roth, another survivor. These two survivors started their family out of the ashes of the Holocaust - today that family sits at 18 (chai) strong. Berta is survived by her children Ruzena Gordon and late son-in-law Michael Gordon, Eva and Vojtech Ackerman, grandchildren Tomas and Abby and Eddie and Rebecca Ackerman, Andrea and Phil Schlakman and Rebecca Rothman and eight great-grandchildren: Ariana, Noah, and Ben Ackerman, Anabelle, Talia and Remy Schlakman, and Tessa and Jude Rothman. Berta’s daughters brought her to be with them in Houston, where she has made countless friends over the past 25 years. At Goldberg Towers, she would sponsor and cook for the weekly Shabbat kiddush luncheons; her belief in G-d and Jewish faith were central to her being. She enjoyed quality time with her 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren and has served as a role model of strength, love, and the importance of faith and family. She loved to cook delicious meals, always pushing seconds and thirds on her grandchildren. She loved dogs, especially Lexi, she loved playing Bingo, and painting and talking with friends and the staff at Seven Acres. Her famous saying of living “Day by Day” will serve as a daily reminder to focus not on the troubles of yesterday, but rather the blessings in front us, today. She has forever left an imprint on those that were fortunate enough to know her and her survival story will continue to inspire generations to come. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at Beth Jacob Cemetery, 2300 Almeda Genoa Rd. Houston, TX 77047. For those wishing to view the service, please use the following link to view a recording: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY3MTU4OTc0ODIyNTg5OSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw== With the death of our beautiful loving matriarch, we also honor our family who did not have funerals or memorials when they were exterminated in the Holocaust. In lieu of flowers, we ask that contributions be made in her honor to Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services where she was being cared for lovingly by the incredible staff.

Berta Irena Roth

August 15, 1923 - December 20, 2022