euskalkultura.eus

03/13/2015 - Elko, Nevada, USA

(1922 - 2015)

(obituary published by the Elko Daily)

Mercedes Lostra, our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the Highland Manor on March 13, 2015 while surrounded by her family.

She was born in Elko, Nevada on February 21, 1922 to Juan Antonio and Maria Laucirica-Jauregui. When she was nine years old, she and her family moved back to Gernika, Bizkaia, Spain. After spending the next seventeen years there, and living through the Spanish Civil War, her family decided it was time to come back to Elko. It was then, in 1948, that she met and married the love of her life, John Lostra, and together they had six children.

Mercedes had such strong faith and a great love for her family. Always a servant at heart, she devoted her life to taking care of others and her generosity stretched beyond measure. She was an amazing cook and loved preparing meals for big family gatherings and baking everyone’s favorite desserts, including her delicious chocolate chip cookies and maple bars that became well-known throughout the community. If she wasn’t busy creating masterpieces in her kitchen, you could always find her sewing, working in her yard, or tending to her beautiful vegetable garden. She was a wonderful woman who was loved by all and we are going to miss her dearly.

She is survived by her children; Francis 'Patxi' (Julianne) of Boise, ID; Anson (JoJo) of Elko; Mercedes (James) Macpherson of Elko; John (Michelle) of Portland, OR; Christina (Alan) Foust of Elko; daughter-in-law, Theresa, of Elko; 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister, Pilar Jauregui-Pradera; brother, Tony Jauregui; son, George Lostra; and grandson, Anthony Lostra.

The Holy Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 23, 2015 followed by Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elko. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the “Tree of Life”, Elko Euzkaldunak (Basque) Club, or St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.