Javier Aberasturi, age 95, passed away peacefully in his home on September 22, 2020 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is survived by his step-daughter, Loretta (Sandoval) Gama, granddaughters Lori (Gama) and Michael Gabriel, Susie (Gama) and Brad Reese, Valerie (Gama) and Richard Romero; great-grandson, Evan White and great-granddaughter, Nina Romero, all of Colorado; and his niece, Idoia Aberasturi Galdos, as well as many other relatives in Spain. He is preceded in death by the love of his life, Faye (Sandoval) Aberasturi; his parents, several brothers and sisters and his son-in-law, Mariano Gama.
Javier was born on March 15, 1925 in Vizcaya, Spain. As a young boy, Javier and his family survived the Great Depression in Europe and also survived the Spanish Civil War bombings of Guernica, Spain and other parts of the Basque area of northern Spain. After Javier’s father was imprisoned and later died because of Franco’s persecution and repression of the culture and language of Spain’s Basque and Catalan regions, Javier, at the age of 15 (in 1940), joined the Merchant Marines and became a cook. In 1948, Javier arrived in America. Javier endured and overcame many hardships as he worked as a sheep herder; a hunting guide; a ranch-hand and a cook. Javier moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where in 1957 he met the love of his life, Faye. In 1961, they moved to Oakland, California to be closer to Loretta and Mariano’s growing family. Javier worked as a chef, and later as the manager of Jack’s Steakhouse in San Francisco.
Javier returned to Colorado over 17 years ago where he continued his dedicated and selfless love to his step-daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed cooking, dancing, red wine and mariachi music. Celebrating birthdays and holidays with his family were some of his favorite things to do. His family and friends will always remember him as the sweetest, most generous man with blue eyes, who never complained about anything and was always there for them.
Javier's family would like to extend a special thank you to Dora, who was Javier’s dedicated and loving housekeeper and caregiver for the past few years; and the caregivers of Amada Senior Care for their dedicated and loving care of Javier during his final days.
A graveside service, observing social distancing and masks, is scheduled at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, October 23, 2020 at Imperial Memorial Gardens Cemetery (5450 Hwy 78 West) in Pueblo, Colorado. Pastor Steve Chavez will be residing and a celebration of life will follow afterwards. If you are unable to stand for a period of time, please bring a chair, as the cemetery is not allowed to provide them due to Covid-19 restrictions. Please meet family in the East parking lot of the funeral home no later than 10:45am, so that we may all proceed out to the graveside together.
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