euskalkultura.eus

01/30/2018 - Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

1923 ~ 2018

Narciso Gondra, 95, passed away peacefully on January 30, in the care of family and hospice. Narciso was the youngest of 10 children born on January 16, 1923 in Kortezubi in the Basque Province of Bizkaia, Spain. Early in his life Narciso experienced hardship losing both parents as a child and surviving the Spanish Civil War.

Narciso came to the U.S. in 1951 and worked as a sheepherder for seven years in the Shoshone mountain range of Idaho. He returned to Gernika, Spain where he met and married his maitea (sweetheart) of nearly 60 years until her passing in March 2017. In 1959 Narciso and Laudelina immigrated to America starting in Sun Valley, Idaho. Shortly later Narciso learned the trade of a bench jeweler, a career he loved until his retirmement at age 80.

In 1968 his career led him to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he met his many Basque friends at the Hogar Hotel a boarding house for Basques transitioning from the Basque country to America.

Narciso was an active member of the Basque Club of Utah since its inception in the 1970s. He was always a devout Catholic who believed and lived a simple life of strong moral principles. Some of his passions were gardening, routing for his Athletic Bilbao soccer team and following every Utah Jazz game; however, his greatest joy was spending time with his wife and family along with his furry companion Foxy. 

Narciso is survived by his two children Anna Maria Allen (Jim) and Xavier Gondra along with his granddaughter Elizabeth Budenberg (Luke). The family would like to thank Joelle, Megan and Matt at CNS Hospice for their compassion. 

Aita and Aitaita we love and miss you. Never has agur been so hard to say so it is better that we say gero arte. 

A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday February 7 at 11:00 am. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 East South Temple. A viewing will be held Tuesday February 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South. Interment at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

(published in Salt Lake Tribune on Feb. 4, in Salt Lake Tribune, Legacy.com)