Bernarda Elvira Cobos

Bernarda Elvira (Vera) Garcia Cobos, RN, BSN, MPH, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend passed into the Lord’s hands on April 9, 2019. Elvira was met by her soul mate, Ruben Cobos Sr. at the pearly gates. Vera was born in Ranchos de Taos, NM to Bernarda Leyva Garcia and Juan I. Garcia. She was preceded in death by her parents, 11 brothers and sisters and her husband of 54 years, internationally renowned scholar, linguist and folklorist Rubén Cobos. After graduating from Menaul High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Vera earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Deaconess Hospital School of nursing in Spokane, Washington. She received her master’s degree in public health nursing from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado. Vera proudly served as a US Public Health Service Cadet Nurse during World War II which relieved the critical stateside nursing shortage. She is featured at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Elvira was the 37th Registered Nurse to receive her license in the State of New Mexico and one of the first Public Health nurses to distribute the Polio vaccine in 1955. She practiced nursing in New Mexico for 42 years including school, hospital and public health nursing. During her extensive career, Vera protected the health of over 200,000 patients, through home visits, Bernalillo County Health Department well baby clinics and school nursing (including St Pius X Catholic High School from 1972-1978). Elvira kept her continuing medical education and Nursing licenses current in both California and New Mexico to the present. Vera was active in many nursing organizations including the NM nurses association, California Nursing Association and the Sigma Theta Tao Nursing Honor Society. She had been a member of Queen of Heaven Church for over 60 years when she served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She was active in other organizations in the church including the Rosary Altar Society and Catholic Daughters. She was politically active and did door to door canvassing for the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign with her grandson Jordan Rosenberg, where she met labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, ​co-founder (with Caesar Chavez) of the National Farm workers Association ​at Democratic Headquarters, Phoenix, Arizona. November 2016​. She loved to visit her grandchildren Jordan and Manolo in California and was a vibrant presence in their lives. In addition, Vera was an active gardener and traveler. Vera traveled to Europe, the Baltic countries, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Japan, Alaska, Mexico and many of the United States during her lifetime. Her two favorite trips were to Japan with her grandchildren and to the Holy Land with her daughter Renee. Vera is survived by daughter, Renee Cobos MD (Robert Rosenberg MD); grandsons, Jordan Rosenberg and Manolo Rosenberg; son, Ruben Marcelino Cobos ; daughter, Helene Chenier (Marc); nieces Francina Holcom, Ruby Quintana ( Jerry), Olga Anson, Henrietta Roudabush, Yolanda Padilla ( Stan), and many grand nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. A visitation will begin with a Rosary to follow on Thursday, May 23, 2019, 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH- University. Catholic Service will take place on Friday, May 24, 2019, 10:00 a.m. at FRENCH- University with reception to follow. Internment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Good Shepherd center of Albuquerque 218 Iron Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 to care for the homeless.