euskalkultura.eus

04/16/2017 - Daly City, CA, USA

Angel Arriada arizkundarra hil da San Frantziskon, tupustean, erori baten ondorioz. Joan den otsailean, San Frantziskoko 'Bizi Emankorra' saria jaso berria zuen, bere bizitza osoan egin lanagatik, zinez harro eta pozik, bere familiak inguratuta. Pare bat hilabete geroago etorri zaigu berri lazgarria. Agur eta besarkada bero bat, Angel. Hona otsailean, Gracian Goyhenetche BCCeko lehendakariak zuri buruz esan zituenak 'Bizi Emakorra' saria ematekoan. Gure doluminik zintzoena zure emazte Mari Carmen eta haurrei, eta anaia Jesus eta familia eta lagunei. GB.

Angel Arriada has passed away and we are sad. It was totally inexpected. Just a couple of months ago we saw him happy, holding in his hands the Bizi Emankorra award for a whole life contribution to the Basques and the Basque culture in the Bay area, at the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center. He was proud, as his family was. These are some of the words SFBCC presidente Gracian Goyhenetche said about him that day. A big hug, Angel

SFBCC President Gracian Goyhenetche, highlighted his contribution from the beginning at the SFBCC’s inauguration on March 28, 1982, when the first pelota goma game was played by Angel Arriada, with his partner Jose Irigoyen versus Jean Goni, and Pierre Irola. Soon after, the Center’s Pilota Committee named him Pelota Goma Chair.  Angel became the first chairman of Pilota Goma.  He remained the chairman for all of the 1980's.  Not only was he the chairman of Pilota Goma, he also won many championships during those many years.

He has also contributed in many other ways. For example, in 1985 he volunteered to be a part of the Building and Grounds Committee, being a member of the volunteer clean-up crew organized by Jean Gorostiague and Anita Arduain.  From 1993 to 1996 he was a elected member of the board of directors, where he served with honor and determination.  He has always supported work done in favor of the Basque culture and in 2000, the US Federation of Basque Pilota presented him, along with five other at the SFBCC, a medal in recognition of his work to perpetuate and disseminate pilota in the US.

Friends & family are invited to attend the Viewing/Rosary and Mass Service which will be held at St. Veronica's Church, 434 Alida Way, South San Francisco, CA starting at 9:15am (Mass will begin at 10am) on Thursday, April 20, 2017.

(Jean-Paul Barthek prestatu bideoa)

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(Obituary published on Apr. 19, 2017 in San Francisco Chronicle, Legacy.com)

Angel Arriada

(February 13, 1933 - April 16, 2017)

Angel Marie Arriada was 84 years old when he passed away on the morning of Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. His final days were spent surrounded by love with his family.

He was born on February 13, 1933 in the small basque village of Arizcun, Spain to parents Urbano Arriada and Encarnacion Elizeche. He grew up on a farm where they raised sheep. The oldest of six, he spent much of his time working on the farm but during his free time would escape to the town's handball court where he would play "pilota." At the age of 18, he immigrated to Bakersfield, CA. In exchange for five years of sheepherding services, the US government provided him with citizenship. From there he moved to the San Francisco bay area where he established his gardening business. He frequently returned to the basque country to visit family and friends and eventually met and married Maria Carmen Garbalena, with whom he had just completed 47 years of marriage. Angel and Carmen raised two beautiful girls and have four grandchildren.

Angel and his wife lived in Daly City, where even into his retirement Angel continued his gardening business (though at a much smaller size). When not gardening, he could be found taking five mile walks, playing cards at the Basque Cultural Center, hanging out with his grandkids or watching his pilota games on the computer. Angel was a positive and gregarious individual who loved to interact with people and share stories. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. 

Angel is survived by his wife, Maria Carmen, daughters Rosemary (husband Daryl) Arriada-Keiper, Bernadette (husband Oscar) Lara, grandchildren Ryan and Amaya Keiper, Maite and Mateo Lara, his brother Jesus Arriada (wife Maria Asuncion) and sisters Bernadette Arriada, Ana Mari Arriada, and Anuntxi Arriada. Angel is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was preceded in death by his brother Juan Jose Arriada. 

Friends and family are invited to attend Angel's Viewing/Rosary and Mass Service will be held at St. Veronica's Church, 434 Alida Way, South San Francisco, CA starting at 9:15am (Mass will begin at 10am).

The Interment Service will follow at 11:30am at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1500 Mission Rd, Colma, CA. 
Family and friends are invited to a lunch reception, after the Interment Service, at the Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Ave., South San Francisco, CA.

Donations may be made to the charity of your choice  in Angel's honor.