euskalkultura.eus

05/14/2020 - Millbrae, Ca, USA

May 6, 1939 - May 14, 2020

Maurice Bigue passed away pacefully at home with his loving family by his side on May 14, 2020, at the age of 81. He will be greatly missed and remembered by his loving wife Marie, his two sons Dominic and Marcel, his daughter in-laws Christa Palmer Bigue and Sindy Escoto Bigue and his two granddaughters Genevieve and Marguerite Bigue.

Maurice was born on May 6, 1939, son of Philomene Casaux and Jean-Louie Bigue in Lanne, France, a small farming village in the Pyrénées. As one of 13 siblings, his strong work ethic began at an early age as he committed himself to his schooling, work on the family farm and as a baker in a neighboring village. In 1958, at the age of 19, he served in the French Army for two and a half years stationed in Algeria.

At the age of 22, he emigrated to the United States to take over his brother Victor's landscaping business, working first in San Francisco, and later on the San Mateo County Peninsula. At the age of 52, he changed carreers to manage the Castro Hotel in North beach San Francisco. At the age of 62, he retired and spent time enjoying his granddaughters, traveling to meet his sons on their adventures in Latin America, visiting family and friends in France, and exploring the Alpine lakes and fishing in the sierras around Carson Pass.

Maurice met his wife Marie-France Arretche in San Francisco at the Fugazi Dance Hall in 1964 and married on June 5, 1967. Maurice and Marie could often se seen dancing the paso dable at many of their French and Basque social events for more than 53 years of their marriage. He was a proud Béarne whol always maintained his relationships with his family in France as well as with the friendships of his youth in the French and Basque comunnity in the Bay Area. He deeply enjoyed his time spent with friends as a member of the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center, Los Banos Basque Club, Bay Area Faneurs, La Ligue Henri IV, Asociation des Anciens Combattants, La Gauloise, and Les Chasseurs.

Maurice was a devoted family man who loved his family and friends deeply through his actions and deeds. As a man of few words and a good listener, when he spoke it was always with great insight and truth. Maurice was a supportive husband that worked in partnership with his wife in all of their businesses over 53 years of their marriage. He was a loving father who challenged his sons to pursue their education and develop a strong work ethic. He was a devoted friend and could always be counted on to lend a helping hand and leave any project better off than how he found it. Maurice's family and close friends will miss his unconditional love and support. He showed those he loved the importance of serving others and being a man of his word.

The family wishes to thank the Forsythe Cancer Care Center in Nevada and Kaiser Hospice for its exceptional support and care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you enjoy a meal together with loved ones and raise a glass of wine in his memory.

GB