Berta Zoe Castellanos

Berta Castellanos, 87, passed away peacefully at her home in Columbus, Ohio on September 10, 2025, surrounded by love. She was born in Falan, Colombia in December of 1937. She was the eldest daughter of 10 siblings. Berta, always a trailblazer, attended college and studied architecture at a time and place when few women did. 

Berta married Celso Castellanos in 1963 and together they made their way to Chicago, as proud immigrants. There, she worked for decades as a well respected mechanical engineer.

Berta & Celso helped shepherd dozens of newcomers to Chicago and her home was always a refuge offering peace, shelter and great food. Sought for her wisdom, relied on for her friendship, she was the center of her extended family and an entire community.

Of her many accomplishments, none were more important to her than being the much loved mother to two daughters, Bertica and Adriana; as well as Abuelita to Isabel, Magdalena and Leo. 

An adept practitioner of Tai-Chi, Berta both taught the art and started each day with it. She was kind and compassionate and always told it like it was.