Anna Lizaso Obituary

Emmett - Anna Louise Egurrola was born in Caldwell, Idaho, on March 4th, 1943. Her parents, Joe and Alice (Eiguren) Egurrola, raised Louise and her younger sister, Julie (Julio Bilbao, Josie, Anita Louise & Amaya) in Homedale. When Louise spoke of her sister, she would always tell you Julie was a nurse and let you know how very proud she was of her. Their father died in 1959 when they were young girls. His death greatly impacted Louise's life, and she spoke of it often. Her Uncle Barney and Aunt Lucile Egurrola helped Alice, so they could remain on the farm. Alice's focus was raising her girls, and that remained steadfast until her death at 95. Louise was very proud of being a Homedale Trojan and had regular lunches with her special classmates.

Louise married Pete Lizaso (Vincent, Juanita Onederra) on June 27, 1964. They lived on Pete's family jersey farm in Boise, next to his brother Ignacio 'Choch' (Colleen, Vince, Cecil & Beni) and sister Josephine (Joe Yrazabal, Vicky & Anna). In the late 1970's, because of growth in Boise, Pete and Louise relocated the dairy farm to Emmett with their four young children.

Their first son, Antonio 'Tony' Joseph, was named after her father, Joe. Louise would often look out her kitchen window as Tony walked to the milk barn and say how much he looked like her dad. Tony gave Louise two of her greatest joys, her grandkids, Allison and Joey. Pete and Louise learned their first grandchild was a girl when they received a collect phone call from the hospital from Allison Louise. Joseph 'Joey' Wesley came next. When Joey was little, and someone asked him his name, he would always answer, "Joseph Wesley Louise Lizaso." As adults, when Allison and Joey would walk through the door to visit, Louise would yell, "Oh! I love you!" Tony also brought Louise her special Irish daughter, Kitty (Roy Bean, Dalli and Kade Snyder).

Louise's second son, Daniel 'Dan' Robert (her Danny Boy), and Louise had a special bond. Her daughters always teasingly referred to Danny as her 'favorite child'. She would immediately say she loved all her children the same, but they both agreed that of the four children, he'd be their favorite, too. Dan helped his dad care for Louise.

Their first daughter, Carmen Josefa, added a special son, the late Don Boeger. With Don came more grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to love. Brandee, Ricky (the first man with a beard Louise ever kissed), and Charlee Brittell. Amanda, Beau, Marlee, Jayden (Higgins) and Aubree Hamilton. Marlee was born on Louise's birthday, and she reminded Marlee of that every time they were together, both of them loving their special birthday bond. Louise loved watching Charlee and Aubree dance, and their performances always received a big round of applause.

Second daughter, Aurora Marie, added a son, Steve Herring. Steve was an immense help to the family in caring for Louise in her final years. He brought Louise a rescue cat, Smokee. Smokee loved her grandma and was the only one who would watch Hallmark movies with her. Marie also brought high school friend, Tammy Maxey (Brad, Taj & Jace), to become her chosen daughter.

Louise loved her many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles, who she would stay in touch with, through the many greeting cards she would often send.

Pete and Louise attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emmett. They enjoyed the many friends they made there.

Her husband Pete's wedding vows, 'in sickness and in health', never wavered in their 54 years together, until his death in 2019.

If you had asked Louise about the most beautiful parts of her life, she would not have pointed to a place or a moment. She would have looked at the people she loved and said, "This right here. This is it."

Her last few years were a struggle for her. She lost the ability to walk, feed herself, her memory, and her ability to communicate. She still enjoyed music. Song lyrics were the last memory she held on to, and eventually, she would just hum. But one day out of the blue, she sang to her daughter, "I don't know who you are, but I love you." She never lost her ability to love. People say how lucky Louise was that her children cared for her right up until her death. Luck had nothing to do with it! When a son receives a phone call that his mother has died, and his response is, "We were so lucky she was our mom," that is your legacy. It's not what you leave for them, it's what you leave in them.

A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, April 12, at 2:00 in her hometown of Homedale at Txoko Ona Basque Center, 333 S. Main St., a special place that she was very proud of, where her heritage is celebrated. Donations can be made to Txoko Ona, or if you were lucky, like us, buy your mom some flowers.