Aurora Catania

Aurora Catania 1945 - 2013 In the early morning of July 30, 2013, Aurora Catania, our beloved wife, sister, aunt and friend, died of cancer at her home in Bakersfield CA. Her husband of 34 years, Dr. Robert Catania, remained constantly by her side and was helped in caring for Aurora by her younger sister Penny Garcia. Aurora was 67 years old. One of seven children born to Cayetano and Vicenta Garcia of Bakersfield, Aurora loved her family deeply. From her mother, Aurora learned to cook, clean and to care for her loved ones and from her father she learned to have kindness, grace and devotion. Aurora's concern for others led to her career as a Licensed Vocational Nurse after her graduation from Bakersfield High School in 1963. Aurora was an exceptional nurse during her years at Mercy Hospital and later Kern Medical Center. Doctors requested her for their patients knowing she would provide compassionate, quality care. As a nurse at KMC, Aurora met her future husband, Robert Catania, a Resident physician originally from Kansas City KS. They married in 1979 and together they shared travel, family and a true love of God and belief in providing goodness to others. It was Aurora's absolute faith in God and prayer that guided her through her diagnoses in 1986 of Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia, a rare cancer with a short life expectancy. Aurora was valiant in her pursuit to live a healthy life and never complained of the illness that kept her in medical treatments for weeks and months at a time at UCLA Medical Center throughout the past 27 years. Aurora was welcomed in Heaven by her parents Cayetano and Vicenta Garcia, her brother Daniel Garcia and her sisters Rosemary Moreno and Adela Abdul. Aurora is survived by her husband Robert, her sisters Penny Garcia, Margaret Ritorto and Tina Garcia. She also leaves behind her nephew Michael Ritorto whom she loved in her heart as a son, nieces Gina Ritorto and Mia Moreno. She also leaves behind her best friend Marylou Schrader and many other caring neighbors and friends. Visitation will be Friday, August 9, 2013 at St. Francis Church from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass will be Saturday, August 10 at noon at St. Francis Church. Luncheon will follow at 2 p.m. at Wool Growers Restaurant, 620 East 19th Street, Bakersfield CA. A private burial will be held at a later date at Hillcrest Memorial