Aurora Atilano McKee

Aurora Atilano McKee, 95 of Waco, passed away December 28, 2020. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, January 8, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Benjie officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. with Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 7, 2021 at the funeral home.

Aurora was born on June 9, 1925 to Jose, Sr. and Esperanza (Luna) Wee in Zamboanga, Philippines. She was a longtime resident of Waco. Aurora was a homemaker. Aurora married the love of her live, Harold Don McKee on January 6, 1969 in Houston, Texas. She spoke five different languages and on many of their adventures she was husband’s interpreter. Harold and Aurora both had a love for animals.

Aurora was raised in the Philippines while World War II was being fought in the cities and countryside. Due to her father’s business interests her family was at great risk and were often on the run. She and her family emerged from the war intact, and with grateful hearts. Her father was of Chinese descent, so she learned and spoke fluent Mandarin, together with English and her native tongue in Zamboanga. Her adventurous spirit eventually took her to Manila, where she managed a Spanish restaurant – and adding Spanish to her language skills. While working in Manila, she met and married an American oil and gas engineer – Harold McKee – and they traveled the world together for both work and pleasure, before finally settling in the Waco area for retirement.

A devout and faithful Catholic and prayer warrior, Aurora was a long-time member of Sacred Heart Parish in Waco, was a fixture in both her church and in the greater Waco community - as a charter member of the Fatima Rosary Prayer Group and the Waco Fil-Am community. She was a great cook, and was both a mother figure and “Tita” to multiple generations of families throughout Central Texas, all of whom are grateful to have known her and loved her. She will be missed. Aurora is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Harold Don McKee, 5 siblings. Survivors include her brother and sister and 16 nieces and nephews.