Lydia Jausoro

Lydia "Lil" Jausoro, 93, of Boise, died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, in a Murray, Utah, hospital.

Her funeral was held last Friday, Nov. 22, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Boise. Burial followed at Morris Hill Cemetery.

Lydia was born March 28, 1920, in Mountain Home, to Julia Chacartegui from Lekeitio and Pablo Sillonis from nearby Ispaster in the Basque Country. The only daughter, she was raised with older brothers Julio "Juke," John "Chuck," Richie, Alphonso and younger brother Robert.

From an early age, she was called "Lil." She had a happy childhood growing up in Mountain Home--riding her bike, playing sports (including basketball!) and developing life-long friends.

Her father, Pablo, was a sheepherder, and she told many stories of summer days in Chimney Creek where her older brothers also had jobs in the sheep camp.

Lil was very sharp and bright. She skipped third grade, thus joining her brother, Alphonse, all through school. Together they graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1937. (With the passing of her friend, Jean Yrazabal Lasuen, in September, Lydia may have been the last member of the MHHS Class of '37.)

Also, in 1937, Lil was named Elmore County Rodeo queen and was crowned by Sen. William Borah. (She didn't know how she deserved the award. While she did ride a horse, she certainly was not a fancy rider or roper!)

After high school she attended Boise Business School, staying at Jayo's Boarding House, and soon began her career as a secretary.

Lil clearly remembered when she first met her future husband, Louis Jausoro. In September 1936, Louie and three of his friends drove from Nampa to Mountain Home and happened to meet Lil and three of her friends. Ten years later, Louie and Lil were married.

Louie was a member of and employed by the Idaho Air National Guard at Gowen Field. Lil resumed working in 1955 and was employed by the Idaho Army National Guard, retiring in 1981.

Louie and Lil had two daughters, Juliana and Robby Lou.

As charter members of the Euzkaldunak, Inc. (1949), Louie and Lil were active members. They also were members and volunteers for the Basque Museum and of St. Mary's Church. Additionally, Lil was a member of Mountain Home's Euskal Lagunak and Homedale's Txoko Ona Basque Clubs. Since age 16, she was also a member of La Organizacion Independiente Social--along with her mother and female relatives.

Louie and Lil were Bronco fans and season-ticket holders for BSU football and basketball games. If Lil was not in attendance at a game, she still wore her orange-and-blue game-day shirts and shoes.

Together, Louie and Lil made five memorable trips to the Basque Country--their last in 1995 when they were accompanied by many family members, including their four grandchildren. Christina, Johnny, Jill and Jude have everlasting memories of their travels, particularly of Amuma interpreting stories from Basque to English for them (including her own colorful commentary).

Lil loved going to dances, dinners and parties.

Never reaching 5 feet in height but constantly on the go, she was often described as "the energizer bunny."

Lil was a good driver with excellent vision. She renewed her driver's license last March--good-to-go until 2017.

She was well loved and admired by people of all ages who will miss her wit and enthusiasm.

Lil was a living memory vault and was often asked to fill the gaps or clarify information--unknown or long-forgotten by most others.

She was an outstanding cook, particularly, her flan and Basque tongue were legendary.

One of Lil's legacies will be the Basque band "Amuma Says No"--she was the Amuma! She was a big fan of "her" band and its members: granddaughter Jill, Dan, Sean, Rod, Spencer, Micah, Aaron and Dave.

Lil made two additional trips to the Basque Country--in 2007 and 2010. At 90 years of age on her last trip, she followed the tours of the Oinkaris and Amuma Says No. Lil was interviewed in Euskera by the media in many towns and her stories appeared on TV and in newspapers.

Amuma's four great-grandchildren were a great source of pride. She enjoyed Conner's and Josephine's activities and Boise'ko programs. The twins Johnny and Jimmy delighted her in their conversations or when they ate her rice pudding, "gustora."

Lil is survived by: her daughters and sons-in-law, Juliana and John R. Aldape and Robby Lou and Jude Gary; her four grandchildren, Christina and her husband, Josh Bawden, John Luis Aldape and his wife, Jennifer, Jill Aldape and her husband, Xanti Alcelay, and Jude Gary; and four great-grandchildren, Conner Gary Bawden, Josephine Lydia Aldape, John Leandro Aldape and James Louis Aldape. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sylvia Goicoechea Sillonis, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends--here and in the Basque Country--who have adopted Amuma Lil as their own.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louie, who died in 2005, and all her Sillonis brothers, baby Joseph, Alphonse, Robert, Chuck (wife Gloria Yrazabal), Juke and finally Rich (just 5 months ago). She was also pre-deceased by her Jausoro sisters- and brothers-in-law, Marie (Jess) Bermensolo, Joe (Julie) Jausoro, Lola (Ellis) Wickham, Jim (Isabel) Jausoro and Tony Jausoro.

Memorial contributions would be graciously accepted by: Oinkari Basque Dancers, PO Box 1011, Boise 83701; Euskal Lagunak, PO Box 88, Mountain Home 83647; or a favorite charity.

Agur, Amuma. Go easy.