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INOCENIO JAURENA
 Inocencio
Jaurena was born in Spain on July 5,1901. He was the son of
Nicholas Jaurena (Spain) and Nicolasa Echeverria Jaurena (Spain).
Inocencio (Jack) came to the United States as a young sheepherder
in 1928. After a few years of working as a herder, inocencio
formed a partnership with Jeanne Iribarne Duns to operate
a Basque Restaurant and saloon in the Basque colony in Kern
County. At the corner of Sumner Street and Kern Street, The
PYRENEES CAFE was established in 1935. Inocencio provided
the financial backing and Jeanne provided the necessary restaurant
experience for their new business. Together they operated
the Pyrenees Cafe until Jeanne's death in 1945, when he became
the sole owner of the cafe.
He continued to operate the business always generous and gracious
to young Basques. A strong work ethic was always a major element
of his life. Many local restaurantuers worked at some time
for Inocencio at the Pyrenees, learning the restaurant business
day by day. Catherine Duns, Jeanne's daughter helped him in
the business until her marriage and moved to San Francisco
in 1948. Upon the death of Inocencio's wife Virginia in 1950,
Catherine Duns Cerri, her husband Alvin and baby Deborah returned
to Bakersfield to help Inocencio continue the Cafe. Inocencio,
Catherine and Alvin would continue that life long dedication
until Catherine's death in 1972. Inocencio would sell the
Pyrenees Cafe in 1973 to Ruth Lewis, Inocencio Jaurena died
December 51, 1975 in Mercy Hospital. He was laid to rest in
Union Cemetery, Inocencio was always proud of his Basque heritage
and was honored to be a founding member of the Basque Club.
The Pyrenees Cafe continues to operate today in the same location
and in much the same family style operation Inocencio fathered
back in 1935. Alvin Cerri still manages the business with
the help of Jeanne's granddaughter Susan Cerri Buck.
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Fathers
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2002,
Pierre Igoa