diáspora y cultura vasca
17/06/2025 - Chino, California, EEUU
(publicado en DignityMemorial.com)
Saint Jean Gastelluberry passed away peacefully at home in Chino, California at the age of 90, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Saint Jean was born in Behasque, France on March 5, 1935, his home, Jaureia, with his father Jean Gastelluberry of Armendarits and Rosalie (Laby) Gastelluberry of Suhescun. They were 6 children (3 boys / 3girls), St. Jean was the fourth. He went to school until 14 years old. St. Jean went into the French Military at age 20 for 29 months. He was a Colonial Paratrooper and fought in the Algerian war.
Peyo, his brother, was in the USA in 1954 sheepherding and milking cows. St. Jean arrived in 1959. With the help of his brother Peyo he was able to purchase his airline ticket for the US. St. Jean had help from Jean Baptiste Robidart with documents to/for the USA.
St. Jean started milking cows for Jean & Rosalie Bachoc (Rosalie his 1st cousin) and their two children. In 1963, Jean Bachoc’ family and Peyo all returned back to France.
St. Jean and his associate Jean Pierre Parachou both decided to buy their own dairy. In 1964 they purchased 160 cows and leased the dairy for 5 years. They realized with so much work, they needed help with the cooking and house cleaning. A friend of theirs, Michel Plaa, reached out to Catherine, widow, with two children and expecting, asking if she’d be interested in working for two single men: St. Jean and Jean Pierre.
It didn’t take long for St. Jean to fall in love with her cooking and herself and proposed to marry her. He raised the 3 born children Marie Anne, Veronique and Jean Baptiste, who was born August 6, 1965. On April 30, 1966, St. Jean married Catherine Jaureguiberry Tristant. They were married at St. Margaret’s Mary Church on April 30, 1966. Henri was born in May 1967.
Jean Pierre Parachou sold his share to St. Jean and returned to France in 1966.
St. Jean not only spoke French and Basque, he learned to speak English and Spanish through his years in California. He loved the dairy business and had a love for sheep. He enjoyed watching baseball, football and the Tour de France. In his younger days his passion was to go fishing at Mount Baldy. He enjoyed handball games and loved playing mus. In 2000, St. Jean and his mus partner Beñat Inchauspe, representing the US team competed in the World championship of mus held in Donostia-San Sebastien, Spain
He was a member of the Chino Basque club at the start in 1968. He loved his basque friends, sharing meals, drinks and singing. His last trip to the Basque Country was in 2008. He loved his family, friends and visiting the countryside. He was joyful, enjoyed conversation and good laughs. The dinner table chair is empty and quiet now. The family would like to thank all the doctors and medical personnel, caregivers and hospice who did a wonderful job caring for him in his final months.
Saint Jean is survived by his wife Catherine Gastelluberry, his daughters Marie Anne (Victor) Tellechea, Veronique (Francois) Challet, Jean Baptiste (Lourdes) Tristant, Henri Gastelluberry (Steve Lawson); his grandchildren Joline Tellechea, Nicole (Nick) Krasensky, Christophe (Melanie) Challet, Damien Challet, Katrina Challet, Maitena Challet, Andre Tristant, Amelie Tristant (children of Cathy Tristant); Great grandchildren Abel Challet, Elisabeth Challet. His brother Xemartin (Jeanette) Gastelluberry, his sister Annie (Jeannot) Trentin and numerous nephew and nieces in France.
He was preceded in death by his father Jean Gastelluberry and his mother Rosalie Laby Gastelluberry, his sister Marie-Jeanne (Daniel) Escondeur, his sister Ida (Jean Baptiste) Claverie, his brother Pierre “Peyo” (Marie-Jeanne) Gastelluberry.
Services are scheduled:
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation to the charity of your choice in Saint Jean’s name.
Goian Bego (GB) - May Rest in Peace
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