euskalkultura.eus

2023/10/21 - Boise, Idaho, AEB

Florentina "Flora" Aldazabal, 89 of Boise, Idaho passed away peacefully on October 21, 2023.

Flora was born June 19, 1934 in Ondarroa, Bizkaia, Spain, the first-born child of Andres Txurruka and Donata Ansorregui.

As a result of the Spanish Civil War, life in the Basque country was very difficult and food was scarce. So, at the age of 10, her family sent her to a baserri (farmhouse) in Itziar, Guipuzcoa, to nanny three young children for room and board. Her other chores included taking care of the cows, housework and taking milk to sell at the market in the town of Deba. She worked there for 5 years and only visited her parents in Ondarroa at Christmas time.

At the age of 16, Flora worked at the baserri, Miloi, in Berriatua, Bizkaia, where she met her sweetheart, Juan Aldazabal. After Juan's 2-year military service and his 6 years in the United States working, saving money and getting his US citizenship, Juan returned to the Basque Country and married Flora on October 22, 1960 in the church of Itziar.

Better life opportunities encouraged Juan and Flora to sail to the United States. After living in New York for a few months, they traveled cross country in their little French convertible to Boise, Idaho where they operated the Letamendi boarding house with their friends and partners, Jose and Carmen Lete. Her daughter, Iciar, was born in 1962 and later their son, Albert, in 1964.

Seeing an opportunity to own their own business, Flora and Juan moved to Elko, Nevada in September of 1964 and purchased The Star Hotel Restaurant and Boarding House with their partners Jose Mari and Anita Sarasua. After several years and due to Juan's failing health, Flora and Juan sold their half of the Star Hotel to their partners in 1979. They moved back to Boise, Idaho in 1983 to be closer to Juan's doctors and their two children, who were attending college in Idaho. Flora spent 10 years loving, caring and giving dialysis to her ailing husband.

In 1984, Flora began working as cook and bartender at the Basque Center. She was a phenomenal cook and one of the hardest working women one would have the great privilege of knowing. She especially enjoyed meeting and talking to all the people at the Basque Center and welcoming Basque visitors from neighboring states and the Basque Country. She was always first in line to help out with morcilla (blood sausage) making, preparing food for festivals and other activities at the Basque Center.

After the death of her husband, Flora married Emeterio Ysursa in 1988. They were happily married for 26 years. They enjoyed traveling back to the Basque Country to visit relatives and old friends. They also went on several cruises with their best friends, Segundo and Serafina Totorica, playing "Briska" and enjoying the many Basque Festivals.

Flora's many hobbies included; gardening, crocheting blankets and slippers, canning tomato sauce, red pimento peppers and making membrillo. She loved walking with her dog, Mendi and interacting with her parrot, Peppy. Flora loved her family and especially her grandchildren where she was very active in attending their sporting events and Basque dance performances. The grandchildren have many fond memories of Amuma and Aichicha. She believed that staying busy and having a purpose led to having a happier life.

Flora was a member of the Elko Basque Club in Elko, Nevada, the Euskaldunak Club in Boise, Idaho and Txoko Ona in Homedale Idaho.

She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Juan Aldazabal and Emeterio Ysursa, her parents and three sisters, Maria Teresa, Sabina and Isabel.

She is survived by her two children, Iciar Aldazabal (George Totorica), Albert Aldazabal, five grandchildren, Mikel Totorica Jon Totorica (Angela), Tomas Totorica (Sydney), Christina Aldazabal and Ana Aldazabal, a younger brother Pedro Txurruka of Mutriko, Guipuzcoa, Spain and several nieces and nephew from Spain.

We want to express our appreciation to the staff at Cornerstone Senior Living for the compassion and personal care they gave our mother.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Basque Foundation, 601 W Grove Street, Boise, Idaho 83702 or a charity of your choice.

Goian Bego (GB) - May she Rest in Peace

VIEWING
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cloverdale Funeral Home - Gibson Chapel (1200 N Cloverdale Rd)
BOISE, ID 83713-7805

(published in CloverdaleFuneralHome.com)