Aurora Maria Gonzales

Aurora (Garcia) Gonzales went home to be with the Lord on October 6th, 2025 at the age of 90. She passed peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by family. She was born on March 18th 1935 in Vallecitos de Los Indios, New Mexico. She graduated from Bernalillo High School and received her nursing aide certification. She married Frank Gonzales in 1955 and they moved to San Francisco where Frank was employed. There she worked as a homemaker and babysitter. During that time, she had two daughters. In 1964, Aurora and Frank moved back to Ponderosa. Aurora had her third daughter and worked as a homemaker, babysitter, and caretaker for her local church. She also worked as a fire dispatcher during the summer with her husband Frank for seven seasons.

Aurora and her husband celebrated 70 years of marriage. Throughout the years, she took care of many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. She was always cooking, maintained a yearly garden and loved plants and flowers. Aurora always had kind words, good advice, a warm smile, a good joke, a genuine laugh and she loved with all of her heart.

Aurora lived a long life, devoted to God, her Catholic faith, prayer, her husband and her family.

Aurora was preceded in death by her parents Simon Garcia and Christina [Mestas] Garcia, her grandmother, Juanita (Montoya) Mestas; her siblings Johnny, Frank, Irene, Soraida, Cirilia, Simon Jr, Selena, and her grandson Christopher.

Aurora is survived by her husband, Frank Gonzales, daughters Arleen, Annette and Juanita; Grandchildren, Therese, Elena, Francesca, Michael, Franceen, Victoria, and Aleah, and 13 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

We will celebrate Aurora’s life on November 4th, 2025 at the Santo Toribio Catholic Church

Aurora will be laid to rest on November 5th, 2025 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery

Pallbearers: Tino Garcia, Joe Garcia, Thomas Scofield, Fred Maestas, Diego Garcia and Michael Saiz.

Honorary Pallbearers: Daniel Scofield, Estevan Otero, Albert Garcia, and Leonard Gonzales.

Tuesday, 11/4/25

Viewing: 9:15 - 9:45- Santo Toribio Church, Ponderosa NM

Rosary: 9:45 - 10:30

Mass: 10:30 - 11:30

Eulogy: 1130, reception to follow at the Edith Murray Community Center in San Ysidro, NM

Wednesday, 11/5/25

Procession Departure: 11 am from Alameda Mortuary, 9420 Fourth St. NW, Albuquerque

Burial: 12:30 pm - Santa Fe National Cemetery