Lucia Gastanaga Balanzategui, 93, of Ontario, Oregon passed away peacefully in Boise, Idaho on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Lucia was born to José Victoriano Balanzategui Dunabeitia and Micaela Balanzategui Uribe on July 27, 1932 in Muxica, Bizkaia, Spain. When the Spanish Civil War began, the family relocated to Bedarona, Bizkaia, Spain, a tiny village along the Bay of Biscay that Lucia considered heaven on Earth.
Lucia met her husband, Ignacio Gastanaga, in Bedarona. He left Spain to work as a shepherd in the U. S. for several years before returning to marry Lucia as promised. The couple got married in Iurreta, Bizkaia, Spain on July 27, 1961. In 1962 they moved to Ontario, Oregon to start their life together. At that time Lucia was seven months pregnant with their son Joe when they made the journey. The family grew in 1965 with the birth of their daughter Diana.
Lucia worked as a housekeeper in Ontario and after retiring she became actively involved with Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church-helping out at the Little Red Hen Thrift Store and volunteering with Meals on Wheels while attending daily mass with her good friends Elena and Jeanne. Many people in Ontario remember seeing the “three amigas” together often chatting away in Basque over coffee at the Plaza Inn.
Lucia took great pride in her Basque heritage. She encouraged her children to speak Basque and they took multiple trips together over the years to visit family back in Spain. She was an active member of the Ontario Basque Club for more than forty years and loved cooking for the annual Basque Dinner & Dance alongside Elena and Jeanne. Her kroketas were always popular and are still talked about fondly today.
Lucia will be remembered as someone who was quick-witted and funny while also being hardworking and warm-hearted towards everyone she met. The gap she leaves behind is immense but we will continue sharing memories and laughing about Amuma just like we do now. We are forever thankful for all those wonderful years spent with her and find comfort knowing she is reunited with her beloved family up above.
Lucia is survived by her son Joe (Lynda) Gastanaga of Fruitland, Idaho and Diana (Mike Kirby) Gastanaga of Boise, Idaho. She took pride in having five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ignacio Gastanaga along with her brothers Tomás (Mari) Ibáñez from Townsville Queensland Australia; Juan Balanzategui; Jesús (Maribel) Balanzategui from Durango Bizkaia Spain; as well as her parents José and Micaela.
A rosary will be said for Lucia on Wednesday April 22 at 10:00am at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church located in Ontario. Funeral services will follow right after at 11:00am. In place of flowers donations can be made either to the Ontario Basque Club or Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
Source link
Source link
