euskalkultura.eus

08/09/2021 - Bakersfield, CA, USA

Josephine Larrainzar Rittenhouse was born on April 16, 1926 to Bonifacia Erdozain Larrainzar and Andres Larrainzar. "Jo " was born in Lemoore, California. Her parents emigrated from Spain in the early part of the twentieth century and raised sheep in various areas of Kern County. Jo loved to reminisce about her Basque upbringing and time spent at the sheep camp, and enjoyed the shared camaraderie with the Basque community.

Jo attended St. Joseph's School and graduated from Kern High School where she met her future husband Bill. They both sang in the high school glee club and shared a love of music their entire married life

After high school, Jo attended and graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California and returned to Bakersfield to begin her teaching career in 1946. Her first teaching assignment was at Fremont School as a first and second grade bilingual teacher

While teaching at Fremont School, Jo married her high school sweetheart, Bill Rittenhouse. They were married on February 19,1949 in St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Jo loved teaching and her career spanned thirty-five years and nine months. During her career, she taught the GATE program, wrote and directed school musicals, directed the school glee club and became a Master Teacher. In addition, she was Teacher of the Year for the 1962-63 school year. She also had two children, Suzanne and David

Jo and her family enjoyed many trailer trips through the Western United States and Canada. Future trips also included family friends and their children. She also enjoyed family and friend get-togethers which included her great Basque dinners, backyard croquet and competitive volleyball matches. Her life was productive and well lived. Everyone Jo touched loved her.

Jo was preceeded in death by her brother Andres and her sister Helen Larrainzar Gray. She is survived by her two children, David Rittenhouse and Suzanne Coombs; special son-in-law Don Coombs; grandchildren Patrick and Christopher Coombs; special niece and nephew Cindy Gray Hayes and Gary Gray and their respective children.

Memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church, 1515 Baker Street, 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 20. Graveside services are to follow at Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Kern County Basque Club, P.O. Box 416, Bakersfield, California 93302.

(published by Bakersfield Californian, Legacy.com on Aug. 17, 2021)