Valeriano Ortiz Rocha spent his last moments on Earth, surrounded by his family, and entered the Kingdom of Heaven on January 31, 2026, after a battle with Alzheimer's. He was 86 years old. Valeriano, or "Vale" as he was called by close friends and family held on to life one day past his 68th wedding anniversary with his wife, Petra Navarrete Rocha.

He was born in Allende, Coahuila, in Mexico on April 14, 1939, to parents Francisco De La Cruz Rocha and Maria Del Refugio Ortiz Rocha. On January 30, 1958, he married the love of his life, Petra Navarrete, and 21 years later, they would have their first and only child, a daughter, who they named Adriana.

Vale was known for a great smile, a friendly demeanor, and for throwing the best family gatherings, where friends quickly became a part of the family too.  He worked for 49 years at Redondo Manufacturing Company, where he was the first one to arrive and got the coffee pot brewing before his co-workers made it in.

Vale loved his garden. He was especially proud of his fruit trees, which survive him today and include a pear tree that he was taking care of with his only grandson, Steve Garcia III, who he loved beyond words and raised as a son. In the early stages of his Alzheimer's diagnosis, Vale was cared for by "Baby" Steve, who lovingly made sure his  grandpa took all of his medications on time, morning and night.

Vale loved his family, including nine brothers and sisters, numerous nieces and nephews and many God children. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Rosa Rocha Vargas, Maria Luisa Rocha Velasquez, Antonia Rocha Rodriguez and his brother, Ismael Ortiz Rocha.

Vale spent his last days cared for by the team at Mesa Vista Healthcare Center, Freedom Hospice, and Diana Lopez, his caretaker from Family Services Association. He was visited daily by Adriana, and very, very often by Baby Steve, Big Steve, Yolanda De Luna, Estella De Luna Falcon, Maria Isabel Vargas, Yesenia De Leon, and Tina and Esteban de Coss.