ALEJANDRO ECHEVERRIA

1929 - 2017

ALEJANDRO ECHEVERRIA
GOIAN BEGO
Alejandro Echeverria, 88, passed from this life on October 18, 2017. Born on July 25, 1929 in Orabide in Spain's Basque Country, Alejandro was a devout Catholic; growing up, he walked two hours each way with his family – while fasting for Communion – to attend Mass. As a child, he also had his own herd of goats, which he tended in the mountains near his family's home, Ansoneko Borda. He worked as a lumberjack in Oloron, France – where he almost lost his big toe – completed his military service, then joined his brothers and uncle in America in 1954. After a short stint as a shepherd on Irvine Ranch, he milked cows in Orange County and the Chino area to save money to marry his sweetheart Pilarcho, to whom he was married from 1960 until her death in 2010. Alejandro worked as a milker for over twenty years, and worked another two decades for Chino Grain & Milling and Coast Grain in Ontario. Known for his love of Basque singing, his ready smile, and the twinkle in his eye (especially at the sight of his grandson Colum), Alejandro was content so long as he had family and friends with whom to watch pilota (handball) games, share bertsos (Basque verses), or engage in (sometimes rapid-fire) conversation – especially over coffee and donuts or a hot meal. Sweet and caring, he was above all a good man. Alejandro is survived by his children: Manuela (Peter), and grandson Colum; Carlos; Begona; and Candida; his brother Juanito (Dolores) and sister Carmen (Roman ); his sisters-in-law Candida (Carlos ) and Josefa (Pablo ); his cousin Amalia; his goddaughter Benita; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 26 with a viewing from 9-10am at Draper Mortuary 811 N. Mountain, Ontario 91762; 11:00 Mass at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 12686 Central Avenue, Chino 91710; and 1:00 interment at Bellevue Memorial Park 1240 W. G Street Ontario 91762. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Chino Basque Club Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 1080 Chino 91710.