****

In a tragic turn of events, Bertha Mendoza, aged 56, lost her life to the devastating floodwaters unleashed by Hurricane Helene in Erwin, Tennessee. An employee at Impact Plastics Inc., Bertha was among the workers swept away while attempting to reach safety from the storm.

September was a significant month for Bertha, as it marked the birthdays of her, her son Guillermo, and her grandson. Bertha's birthday was on September 2. This year, she decided to combine the celebrations into one grand family gathering on September 21. "That was amazing. We got to see everybody there. That was a good time for my mom," her son Guillermo recounted in a phone interview with NBC News.

Known for her well-loved tres leches cakes, Bertha wasn't just the heart of family celebrations but also the soul that united them. Her four children, Emanuel Ibarra, Guillermo Mendoza, Clarissa Flores, and Esteban Mendoza, remember her as the "backbone of the family." Guillermo said, "She was the healer of the family," a source of counsel and comfort in difficult times.

Bertha and her family settled in Erwin in 1998, brought over by her husband Elías Mendoza, a seasonal agricultural worker in the U.S. Originally from Guanajuato in Michoacán, Mexico, Bertha's nurturing spirit left an indelible mark on her grandchildren, whom she adored deeply.

Tragically, on the morning of September 27, Bertha's last hours were spent in calls to her family, expressing love and concern amidst the rising floodwaters. Her final words, as recounted by Guillermo, were filled with love and farewells to her husband and children.

Despite desperate attempts to reach her, including calls to 911 and a futile trip by Guillermo to rescue her, the floodwaters proved insurmountable. The disaster claimed the lives of three individuals, with ten others still missing.

Survivors from the plant have criticized the company's decision to keep workers in the facility during the storm, prompting a state investigation. However, Guillermo Mendoza, a minister at the First Baptist Church of Erwin, is currently focused on honoring his mother's memory and laying her to rest. "I'm not sure exactly how to feel. At first, it was anger, then sadness. Now I feel at peace, at least knowing my mom is resting in peace, in a far better place," he shared.

Bertha Mendoza's legacy of love and care is felt by all who knew her. "If you just spoke to her a couple of minutes, you felt like she was your mom," Guillermo fondly recalled. As the family prepares for her funeral services, they find solace in the lasting connections she forged and the love she spread.