Townsville, Australia. The farewell ceremony and funeral for Jose Mari “Joe” Goicoecha took place this morning with only his closest family present due to the quarantine. For those that had wished to attend but couldn’t, the family recorded and shared the video of the ceremony. There we see the coffin covered with an Ikurriña, with some of his most beloved objects, a txapela (Basque beret), and the mandolin that accompanied him in so many happy times. Everyone attending wore a Basque neckerchief.
Adding to the pain of losing a loved one, are the preventive measures taken because of the Coronavirus, with many members of our Basque community being buried in this context, without celebrating a public ceremony or civic event. We remember all of them with our “azken agurra,” our final goodbye. Goian bego, Gogoan Bego, rest in peace and remain in our memory, Joe Goicoechea as well as all who have passed away during this time in Euskal Herria and its Diaspora.
This is t video of the final goodbye to Jose Mari from his family, his son Steven’s words, the funeral and final song “Agur” sung in Euskera to conclude with a joyful tribute with “Cielito Lindo:”
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