euskalkultura.eus

05/08/2017 - San Jose, CA, USA

(8 Oct., 1924 - 8 Mayo, 2017)

(obituary published on May, 11-12 in Daily Democrat, Legacy.com)

Lydia Espitallier passed away peacefully on May 8. She was born in Stockton on Oct. 8, 1924 to Antonio (Tony) and Teresa Perez who were immigrants from the Basque area of Spain. She grew up with her brother, John, working side by side with her parents on the dairy farm. 

Lydia met her husband, Simon in Stockton in 1943 while working in a 5 and 10 cent store. He always said he met his "million dollar baby in a 5 and 10 cent store". And she was. They were married on Jan. 14, 1945 settling in Woodland. On their honeymoon, they drove to Alaska on the muddy, rocky and rugged Alcan Highway. They would stop in small towns on their way working for a short time and then moving on. After traveling for six months they returned to Woodland to start their married life. Lydia and Simon had a dairy on the land that he farmed as well as having cattle and sheep at their ranch in Capay Valley. She worked very hard alongside Simon irrigating, raking and bailing alfalfa along with milking cows on their dairy. Lydia was very busy with PTA and different volunteer groups such as 4-H where she taught sewing. Many children have fond memories of the classes as well as entering their work in the 4-H fairs. After the dairy, Lydia worked as a bookkeeper for John Spencer's farming businesses for over 20 years. She also worked as a bookkeeper for Western Auto and Hotel Woodland. 

She was a very loving mother, grandma and mother-in-law who was always happy to be with Simon and her children. 

Lydia and Simon loved traveling in Europe, Australia, Hawaii and Canada. In later years, they loved to camp in their travel trailer spending years camping on the coast and in the Sierras'. After many years of traveling, they finally settled down to a quiet life enjoying their five grandchildren. 

Lydia is survived by her son, Steven (Alice), children Anna, Maddie, Nathan; daughter, Renee (Bill), children, Katie and Jennifer Beermann. Preceded in death, loving husband, Simon; brother, John and nephew, Ron. 

Services will be held at Kraft's Brothers Funeral Home on May 12, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Alzheimers Association, 2290 N. First St., Suite 101, San Jose, CA 95131.