Josephine Zaldua Recondo

1947 - 2018

Josephine Zaldua Recondo
1947 - 2018

Josephine Zaldua Recondo succumbed to her battle with cancer on January 19, 2018. She had a short yet strenuous battle and passed away peacefully surrounded by close family and friends. Josephine was born March 17, 1947 in Bozate de Arizkun, Navarra, Spain. She was the fourth of 5 children born to Victoriano Zaldua and Juana Azcarate.

After finishing school at the age of 13, she set out to France where she worked for a family as a live-in babysitter and housekeeper for nearly a year. She returned home and started working as a waitress for a couple restaurants until she found a job at the hotel Trinquete Antxitonea in Elizondo, Spain. At the age of 19, she caught the eye of Alejandro Bernal, a young man whom started a career in Bakersfield, California and was visiting his family in the Basque Country. They dated briefly, got married on a whim, and she accompanied him to America in 1967. They were married for 5 years and had one daughter, Ana Bernal. In 1975, she married Jose Recondo and had two children, Javier and Jenny.

Josephine worked at the Basque Cafe, Ville de Basque, Chateau Basque, Chalet Basque, and ended her final working days at Woolgrowers and Noriegas. Josephine was a charismatic person that had a loving heart coupled with the mouth of a sailor. She could have any and all conversations had a feisty personality with a quick wit that could make the most vulgar of men blush. She would give the shirt off her back to anyone in need and would do it without ever thinking in herself. She was selfless and loved her family endlessly, especially her grandchildren. Josephine loved music and dancing and it would show in her smiling face, she never turned down a twirl around the dance floor and always danced with such grace. She was a collector of angels and believed that all her passed loved ones were her guardian angels. Now it's your turn to be our guardian Josephine, fly with the angels and protect us all.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, beloved brothers; Javier and Jose, and sister-in-law, Diana Zaldua. She is survived by her children; Ana, Javier and fiance, Jessica, Jenny and fiance Pablo; precious grandchildren Julian, Keelan, and Jeziah, her brother Julian Zaldua; his children, Miren and Julian; family members in the Basque Country, and countless extended family at both Woolgrowers and Noriegas. The family wishes to thank Dr. Desai, Dr. Rustagi, Kristi Mendez, and everyone else that had a hand in her battle at the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center. A special thank you is also extended to the whole team at Hoffman Hospice for their compassionate care and support to the family.

A Rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m, on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 900 H Street, Bakersfield, CA. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, also at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Pallbearers are Javier Recondo, Juan Pablo Ramirez, Peter Bautista, Angel Rodriguez, Max Martinez, and Augie Gutierrez. Honorary pallbearers are Alejandro Bernal, Jose Recondo, Jean-Pierre Dalia, Antero Ruiz, Manuel Verdeja, and Jose Maya.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Saint Judes children's hospital at https://www.stjude.org, or A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation at https://youandlundcancer.com, or your favorite charity, in honor of Josephine Recondo.