Aurora M. Gonzalez

Aurora was born in Mexico on October 25, 1926 to Mr. and Mrs. Francisco Martínez. Surrounded by her loving family, she went peacefully to Heaven on February 19, 2014. She was preceded in death by her first husband David Alvarez and her second husband Juan Duarte González.

After Juan’s death in 1973, she relocated from East Chicago, Indiana to Mesa, Arizona with her young children. For many years, numerous East Valley residents enjoyed her excellent cooking while serving as THE COOK at Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant. Upon retiring, she helped her eldest son establish Don Alejandro’s Texan Grill at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, where literally thousands of travelers enjoyed her fine cooking.

On her own, Aurora dedicated her life to raising and educating her children, working endless hours to provide for them. Her legacy to her children and grandchildren is the strong work ethic she instilled in them. Her children describe her as wise, honest, strong, loving, thoughtful, generous, forgiving, selfless, courageous, nurturing, dedicated, and elegant.

She will be forever missed by her children Alejandro Alvarez, Maria Dalhoumi (Mohammed), Rosa González, Sandra González, Adriana González-Thaxton (Doug), Gloria González (Ruben) and Javier González (Sheila), her grandchildren Alejandro Alberto (Valerie), Angélica Anisa (Ron), Habib (Claudia), Sarah, Jennifer (Danny), Shaylah, Stephanie, Tianah, Alejandro, Juan, Carolina, and Ruben Adrian, and her great-grandchildren Matthew, Thomas, Gabriella, Sophia, Elaiza, Amani, Anthony, Zachary, Alessio and Ehlias. She will also be missed by her siblings, sisters in law, brother in law, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends.

Services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery 10940 East Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, Arizona 85248.