Felix Berrueta

1934 - 2021

Felix Berrueta
July 10, 1934 ~ June 17, 2021
Passed away in Burlingame, CA on June 17, 2021. While his death was unexpected, he died peacefully in his home. Felix was born in Arraioz, a small town in the Baztan Valley in Navarra on July 10, 1934. At nineteen years old, Felix left LASCANBERRI, his "etxea", home to pursue the American dream. On November 6, 1952, he arrived in Bakersfield, CA working for the Mendiburu Sheep Company. He worked for them for fifteen years; three as a sheep herder traveling up and down the eastern Sierra mountains and twelve years in operations. In 1966, he returned to the Basque Country to the family home, ELIZBERRI in Hondarribia. During this time, he met Victoria, his wife of nearly fifty years. They decided to return to California for only a "couple of years", residing in San Francisco, however they never returned to the Basque Country to live, but always enjoyed his visits back to see family and friends. Felix was a gardener, having his own business and worked in field operations at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma for thirty-three years. As an active parishioner of St. Catherine's Parish in Burlingame, he also assisted with their gardening maintenance.

Predeceased by his parents, Manuel Berrueta and Tomasa Espelosin and siblings, Antonio and Dolores. Felix is survived by his loving wife, Victoria "Bittori" Berrueta Elizaincin, sons, Xabier and Aitor (Lisa Jovick-Berrueta); siblings, Maria, Pilar, Rosario and Lino; many nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.

As proud as Felix was to have immigrated to the United States and become a US citizen, he never forgot his love of Euskal Herria (Basque Country). Felix was a proud founding director of the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco, CA. His love of the Basque Center was never ending; whether it was on or off the pilota court, playing mus, lunch on Sundays or tending to the flowers around the Basque Center. Felix loved to tell stories about his pilota playing, his time in Bakersfield and his longing for Hondarribia and Baztan. Goian bego eta ikusi artio!

Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 after 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS, El Camino Real at 194 Millwood Drive in Millbrae, where a Vigil Service will begin at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1310 Bayswater Avenue in Burlingame, followed by committal at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Felix's memory to Basque Educational Organization (BEO), PO Box 31861, San Francisco, CA 94131 (www.basqueeducational.org) or North American Basque Organizations (NABO) Jean Leon Iribarren Memorial Fund, 11971 S. Allerton Circle, Parker, CO 80138 (https://nabasque.eus/udaleku_application.html click on link to donate, please include memorial donation in the memo).