A Mass of Christian burial for 84-year old Nellie (Semroska) Huerta of Cozad, a Crawford native, will be held Sat, Jan 9, 2021, at 10:00 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cozad.
There will be no reception after the service. Please wear masks if you will be attending. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page.
Viewing and visitation are Friday from 6-7:00, also at Christ the King, with rosary recited following viewing at 7 p.m.
Inurnment is Monday at 9:30 at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell.
Memorials can be sent to Christ the King Catholic Church or EWTN – Eternal Word Television Network.
Visit elwoodfuneralhome.com to leave condolences online.
Mary Nell (Semroska) Huerta was born in Crawford on Jan. 16, 1936, to Richard and Barbara (Serres) Semroska and died Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney surrounded by her six children.
Nellie grew up in Sioux County on the family ranch near Harrison. After the death of her father, she and two siblings (Ed and Joe) moved to Chadron with their mother.
Nellie attended Chadron Assumption Academy graduating in 1955. After high school, she attended Chadron State College for one semester and worked at the local drug store.
Nellie met the love of her life, J. Conrad Huerta, in the spring of 1955 while he was a student at Chadron State College. They married on May 30, 1956, and celebrated 61 years of marriage before his death.
Besides being the best stay-at-home mom, Nell did child care for local teachers. Nell also worked as a certified nurses aide and worked at the Elwood Care Center.
She was active in her church by teaching CCD and by volunteering for Altar Society. Nell had a strong Catholic faith, which carried her through her life.
Nellie had hobbies that she enjoyed: Ceramics, cross stitching, sewing, watching Western movies, EWTN and cooking being some of her favorites. She loved spending time with her family, mostly her grandchildren.
Survivors include her six children, Kathy (Bill) Simpson of Winter Garden, Florida, Tony (Connie) Huerta of Caddo Mills, Texas, Greg (Lisa) Huerta of Kearney, Andy (Bev) Huerta of Aurora, Colorado, Vickie (Kevin) Gilbert of Cozad and Tim (Krista) Huerta of Lexington
Survivors also include her brother, Joe (Karen) Semroska, Little Falls, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Semroska of Harrison, MaryLou Semroska of Omaha, Laura Huerta of Brighton, Colorado, Rita Garcia of Kansas City, Missouri, Cora Lucius of Gering and Mary (Joe) Finochio of Pueblo, Colorado; brothers-in-law, Philip Huerta of Roswell, New Mexico, Salvador (Helen) Huerta of Scottsbluff, Patrick (Franca) Huerta of Bern, Switzerland, and Stephen Huerta of Sidney; 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren with one more on the way; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Nellie was preceded in death by her husband, J. Conrad Huerta; her parents, Barbara and Richard Semroska; her mother- and father-in-law, Manuela and Pasqual Huerta; her sisters and their husbands, Kay/Eldon Fox, Leona/Rich Robbins, and Irene/Dallas Rex; her brothers and their wives, Franklin/Ruth Semroska, Lawrence/Aggie Semroska, Donald Semroska, Ray/Doreen Semroska, Ed Semroska and stepsister Agnes DeBano; sisters-in-law, Sr. Pasqualita Huerta, Connie McDowell and Theresa Ramirez; and brothers-in-law and their wives, Joe/Natalie Huerta, Pasqual Jr. Huerta, Thomas Lucius and Perry Blanchard.
Nell wanted to be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a devoted Catholic.
Elwood Funeral Home of Cozad is in charge of arrangements.