Aurora Aguila was a “can-do” woman who overcame obstacle after obstacle and struggle after struggle. She may have faltered along her journey through life, but she never let herself become a victim of circumstance. Through all of her trials and tribulations she never let the negative things in life bring her down. If anything, she held tight to the positives in her life and this molded her into beautiful person her family and friends were blessed to know. Aurora welcomed people from all walks of life into her home and treated them like family. She loved with all of her heart and genuinely cared about each and every family member and friend. Aurora was very motherly to all who crossed her path and she didn’t hesitate to let you have a piece of her mind. Most of all, she was a family woman who always kept her husband, children, brother and sisters, grandchildren and nieces and nephews as her first priority.
Aurora Luz Abril was born on November 17, 1954, at UCSD Hospital in San Diego, California, to Adela and Quirino Abril. She was raised in National City with her brother, Robert, and her sisters, Gloria, Yolanda and Delia. The four siblings were raised primarily by their mother as Quirino passed early in Aurora’s life. Being children of a single parent, Aurora and her siblings were dependent on one another, which is probably where she learned her “family first” mantra.
A free spirit who could not be tied down by books and traditional education, Aurora was not the head of her class, nor was she class president. She was, however, well loved by classmates and friends because of her radiant energy and welcoming attitude. At Sweetwater High School, Aurora surrounded herself with laughter and experiences that would teach her lifelong lessons.
As a mother, Aurora was one of the best a child could ask for. Her love and compassion for her children made her role as disciplinarian almost nonexistent. A firm believer in “it’s the little things you do that matter,” she made sure her children always enjoyed themselves when they were with her. Aurora was the kind of mother who would spend her last twenty dollars taking her children to the movies or to Chuck-E-Cheese. She made sure holidays were always special for her children, and birthdays were like mini-holidays. Being surrounded by her children, their laughter, their love, and their energy kept her young at heart.
Aurora met the love of her life in January 1982. They took things slowly and with great caution, building a bond so strong and raising a family together. Eventually Aurora and Manuel Aguila Sr. were married on December 18, 1992, at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As a family, they enjoyed camping at Viejas, Silverstrand Beach and Lake Tahoe for Memorial Day, Labor Day and Fourth of July. She loved any and all things Betty Boop, and was quite a collector of the risqué cartoon. Aurora loved the holidays and always made a big fuss, decorating for every holiday and at the change of each season. One of her most loved hobbies was going to the casinos to test her chances with Lady Luck. She and Manuel would leave early (but not before breakfast was made) in the morning on weekends and days Manuel had off, and they wouldn’t return until late afternoon, always coming back with an exciting story about how she had won a large amount of money, but “put it back in the stupid machine.”
Aurora encompassed the definition of dedication, serving her loved ones until her final days. As a child she cared for her siblings. As an adult, she cared for her mother until her dying day (which is where she picked up her Betty Boop affection). As a mother, she dedicated her life to raising five beautiful children into adults. As a wife, she dedicated her life to serving her husband, always having the house in order, the cabinets and refrigerator well stocked, children taken care of, and dinner ready to be served by 3:40 p.m.
Aurora Luz Aguila is predeceased by her mother Adela, father Quirino, sister Yolanda, and brother Robert. She is survived by her husband Manuel Sr., children Martin Vargas, Bernadette Keough, Annette Abril, Aurora Aguila, and Manuel Aguila Jr., grandchildren Cassandra, Brandon and Thomas Keough and Everett and Luke Vargas, as well as her sisters Gloria and Delia. Although she is no longer physically with us, her memory will live on through the hospitality she has taught us, the love and care she gave us, and the “family first” attitude she instilled. We are all blessed to have known such a beautiful soul.
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