Carmen "Corta" Marie Jesenko

Carmen Marie Jesenko, 94, of Homedale, ID passed away peacefully in her sleep in Nampa, ID on Sunday, April 14, 2013. Carmen was born September 30, 1918 to Justo Victor Corta and Maria Ocamica Corta in Boise, ID. She was the 10th of twelve children. She lived with her family in Jordan Valley, Oregon, spending her summers at the family ranch at Soldier Creek and the school months in Jordan Valley. She attended elementary and high school in Jordan Valley. While spending her summers on the ranch, she helped her mother and sisters with cooking and other chores while her brothers gathered and broke wild horses and tended to the cattle and sheep. There was always work to be done and a crew to cook for, as well as preparing food for visitors who came to the ranch. She and her family worked hard to keep the ranch operating. When Saturday night came around if there was a community dance in Jordan Valley, Carmen and her sisters would climb in the pickup with their brothers and go to the dance. She loved to dance and became a very good dancer. It was at one of these dances she met Tony Jesenko, who also regularly attended these dances with his brothers. Tony began courting Carmen and they eventually married on May 22, 1937 in Nampa, ID. Carmen moved to the Austrian Settlement south of Homedale where Tony operated a farm. Mom always helped on the farm and cooked for farm crews during harvest. Eventually three children we born to this union: a son Paul; and daughters, Joan and Marianne. Mom loved her family and enjoyed preparing big dinners for them and for company. She always liked going on family picnics. Camping and fishing trips were also a big delight for her. It brought great pleasure to Mom when friends and neighbors dropped by for a cup of coffee and one of her delicious desserts. Carmen was a member of St. Hubert’s Catholic Church and St. Hubert’s Altar Society in Homedale for many years. When that church closed, she became a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Caldwell. Over the years she enjoyed gardening, crocheting, embroidering, bowling and doing some traveling. Carmen is survived by her son Paul (Wanda) Jesenko; daughter Joan (Lloyd) Noe and son-in-law, Riley Grimes; 12 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, 30 great-great-grandchildre; a sister, Eugenia Acordagoita; and sisters-in-law Begonia Corta and Annie Davis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tony Jesenko; her daughter, Marianne Grimes; her parents, Justo and Maria Corta; and her brothers; Joe, Mitchell, Luis, Edwardo, Simon, James, and Benacio; and sisters; Evelyn Uria, Emelia Worthington, and Justa Corta; two sisters-in-law, Ellen Corta and Elberta Corta; three brothers-in-law, Joe Uria, Arthur Worthington, and Alfonso Acordagoitia; and a great grandson, Levi Keeney. A Rosary will be held at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, 27 E. Owyhee, Homedale, ID, on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1122 W. Linden, Caldwell, ID Friday April 19, at 10:30 am. Burial will be at the Marsing-Homedale Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Txoko Ona Basque Center, P.O. Box 1163, Homedale, ID, 83628. Service Information