Valentina Evangelina Bernal

Valentina Evangelina Bernal was born on February 14, 1925, in Jerome, Arizona, to Butler William and Julia (Esquivel) Watkins. She passed away April 26, 2015, in Diamond Bar, California.



As a young child, Valentina moved with her family from Arizona to El Paso, Texas. It was there that she grew up and went to school. When in her mid-twenties, her sister, Lupe, convinced her to move to Los Angeles, California. She found work as a waitress there, as well as a husband. In 1959 she met her true love, Benjamin Bernal, Jr. They were married five years later, January 4, 1964, in Los Angeles, California. Benjamin instantly became Dad to Valentinas girls, Elsa and Julia, and they eventually added four sons to the familyDaniel, David, Paul and Frank.



Music was Valentinas favorite thing. From Mexican love ballads to rock and roll to oldies but goodies, she loved it all! She also really enjoyed dancing. Valentina will be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor and her great cooking. Tiny, as she was affectionately known by her husband, was a hard working and enterprising woman who always did whatever it took to help make ends meet. She was meticulous about her home and taught her children to take good care of what they have, but most of all she taught them to appreciate what they have in life. A devout Catholic, Valentina regularly attended church while her health allowed. She truly loved her family and will be sorely missed by them.



Valentina is survived by her daughters, Yolanda (Richard) Gunderson, Elsa Gutierrez and Julia (Tom) Serrato; sons, Daniel (Lisa), David, Paul and Frank Bernal; 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Bernal, Jr., and grandson, Rey Cruz Lucero.



A Catholic vigil service will be led at 7pm, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at White Emerson Mortuary, 13304 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA 90601. Mass will be celebrated at 10am the following morning, Wednesday, May 6th, at St. Bruno's Church in Whittier, California. Interment services will take place at 1:30pm that same day, May 6th, at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.