Marguerite Lopeteguy Heguy, "Amatchi," was born on May 12, 1932 in Bakersfield, California to Marie and Steven Lopeteguy. She grew up with four brothers, Bert, Tony, Mike, Pete and nephews, Joe and Mike. She attended elementary school in Bakersfield and graduated from Kern High School. In her early twenties she could be found waltzing the streets of Bakersfield with her best friend Josie. While hopping around the Basque Picnic circuit, she met the love of her life, Pierre Heguy. Pete and Marguerite made their home in Los Banos where they raised their three children. Over the years, she worked as a custodian at Los Banos High School, waitressed at Carlos' and cooked at both Woolgrowers and the Los Banos Convalescent Hospital. Marguerite was one of the first Basque dancing instructors in Los Banos. In addition, she loved a good game of Pedro, playing the castanets, cooking for her family, UFC fights, and most of all, "telling it like it was." She wasn't just Amatchi to her grandchildren, she was Amatchi to all.


Marguerite is survived by her daughters, Colette Iturbide (Gabriel) and Jeannette Brown, grandchildren, Dominique Iturbide, Nicole Noordman (Alan), Jennifer Schroeder (Casey), Pierre Heguy III (Tracy) and Chelsea Witt (Christopher), great grandchildren, Oliver, Gemma, June and Miles. Marguerite is preceded in death by her husband, Pierre, son, Pierre II, son-in-law, John Brown, grandchildren, Paul Iturbide and Jaime Brown, parents, Steven and Marie, and brothers.


A funeral mass will be held at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10:00am. Marguerite will be laid to rest at the Los Banos Cemetery. Reception to follow at D.E.S Hall

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