Julia Eguinoa Machin

December 20, 1926 - March 21, 2020

Julia Eguinoa Machin, 93, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2020. Julia was born on December 20, 1926 in Orbara, Spain, a small village in the Pyrenees Mountains. A native of the Basque region of northern Spain, Julia moved to the United States in 1956. Upon arriving in San Francisco, she worked at the Spanish consulate before meeting her husband Joaquín. The middle of five children, Julia only had one other family member in the U.S., but made a home wherever she was. Julia loved cooking, especially for others, and was known for her love of bread, cookies and coffee. She was a talented knitter and seamstress, and made countless pairs of socks for her five grandchildren. She taught herself English by reading cookbooks and watching the news, but always claimed that Walter Cronkite was her teacher. She enjoyed practicing Spanish with her grandkids. Julia became an American citizen and got a driver’s license, of which she was very proud. She especially loved spending time in Lake Tahoe, which reminded her of her home in Spain. Julia was a devoted mother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend to many. She is survived by her two daughters, Julie and Leonor, son-in-law Basil and five grandchildren; Bianca, Isabel, Sophia, Gaby and Kevin. She is predeceased by her husband, Joaquin and her siblings, Nemecio, Lucia, Benedicta and Jose. A private family burial service was held on Friday, March 27th at Holy Cross Cemetery. Due to the restrictions of COVID-19, a celebration of life and memorial Catholic mass are being planned for a future date.