euskalkultura.eus

02/02/2022 - Corte Madera, California, USA

Bertrand Urruty passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 2nd, at home in Mill Valley, California.

His last days were spent surrounded by love, with his family and friends.

Bertrand was born on August 26, 1932 in the Basque village of Armendarits, France on a farm as one of 10 children.

After serving in the French military as an ambulance driver, he came to the United States to live the American dream. He started in Buffalo, Wyoming and enjoyed working as a sheepherder for eight years. After a visit to San Francisco, he decided to make it his home and became a gardener.

Three years later he returned to France for the summer, met and married Anita Etchebehere, who was swayed by his charm and description of American life.

He and his family later moved to Corte Madera, then Mill Valley, where he lived for 47 years.

Bertrand enjoyed working hard as a gardener, for his clients as well as in his own vegetable and rose garden for almost 50 years. He was an excellent example of, if you love what you do, it is not work.

Bertrand loved to spend his weekends hunting and fishing with friends and playing Mus (a Basque card game). Our family dinners always consisted of fresh caught meat or fish, and home-grown fruits and vegetables.

He loved getting together to have fun and laugh with family and friends.

Bertrand leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Anita; his children Francois (Yolande), Aline (Joseph), and Josette (Charles); and 10 grandchildren: Aurelie, Nicolas, Sophie, Thomas, Alicia, Jessica, Giselle, Eric, Ainoa and Maika.

Bertrand was preceded in death by his parents, Jean and Marie Urruty; his siblings at a very young age, Jean, Victorine, and Therese; and later his brother Etienne, and sister Eugenie (Pierre).

He is survived by a brother in the United States, Jean-Baptiste (Yvette), and three sisters in France, Marie-Gracie, Anna (Noel), and Marie-Jeanne (Gerard), and many nephews and nieces in the U.S. and France.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the services, which will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 3 Oakdale Ave., Mill Valley. Visitation at 11:00 a.m., Rosary and Mass at 11:30 a.m. (masks are required). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: By the Bay Health, 17 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur, CA 94939; or to the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.

(published by Marin Independent Journal, Legacy.com on Feb. 8, 2022)

Goian Bego (GB) - May Rest in Peace