Isela Bulnes Burget

Isela (Izzy) Bulnes Burget Isela (Izzy) Bulnes Burget passed away at age 95, February 23, 2017 in her apartment at Capitol Place in Olympia, Washington. At the time of her passing she was with her daughter Linda and son in John Kopetzy. Izzy was born in El Paso, Texas in 1921. She had a younger brother Manuel, born in 1925, and a sister Elia born in 1929.

Her family moved back to Mexico during the Great Depression and she finished her schooling at the American School in Guadalajara.

Her father moved the family back to the San Diego area as employment picked up during the preparation for World War 11. In California Izzy joined the State Department as a stenographer and translator and was posted to Ecuador. In her 43 years with the US Department of State she rose to the rank of Diplomatic Consular Officer, which was quite an achievement for a woman, particularly one without a college degree, to obtain. With the State Department, Izzy served in Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

Izzy had one child, Linda, from her marriage to Robert Burget in 1961. Izzy moved to Olympia to be near her daughter's family after her retirement. Although she was retired, Izzy was allowed as an invited guest to attend many of the ceremonies of the handover of the Hong Kong colony from Britain to China in 1997.

Izzy is survived by her daughter and son in law, her grandchildren Justin and Christiana, her sister in law Esther Bulnes many nieces and cousins. Her funeral mass and celebration of life will be Friday, March 3, 2017 at St. Michaels Parish, 1208 11th Ave SE Olympia, WA 98501, 11:15 AM Rosary. 12:00 PM Mass. 3:30 PM Mills & Mills Crematorium.