Aurora Barrera de Lopez

Aurora Barrera De Lopez (born February 25th, 1934) parted from this world on August 19th, 2025 after 91 thriving years of a beautiful life. The last to leave this world from all her siblings, she truly was a warrior right up until God called her home for her eternal rest.

Born in Burgos, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Aurora grew up on a ranch tending to livestock with her family until she made her brave and courageous journey into Texas within the United States of America at the mere age of 11. In South Texas, Aurora met her first husband, Gregorio Lopez, where she bore 3 sons, Jorge (George), Rodolfo (Roy) and the late Jaime Lopez. After Gregorio passed from terminal cancer, Aurora met her second husband, Daniel Hernandez Jr. in 1960 where she bore a daughter, Crizelda (Criz), and 2 sons, Daniel III (Danny) and David. Aurora’s matriarchy spread deeper beyond her immediate 6 children, where she played a loving and caring role in all of the lives of her plentiful grandchildren whom she is forever cherished and remembered by: Anissa and Carl Jr. (CJ) from Criz. Javier, Veronica, Elsa, Adrian, Marisol, Georgie, Katherine Nicole, Gregorio, Gerardo and Louie from George. Gregorio, Brenda, Ruby, Marissa, Joshua, and Rodolfo from Roy. Yesenia and Zachary from Jaime. Daniel IV, Carissa, Renee, Daniel V, Javier and Matthew from Danny. David Jr. (DJ) and Isaiah form David. Going a generation further, Aurora was blessed with the lives of many great grandchildren, including Adalynn Rose from Anissa whom she loved to cook and joke with. To highlight Aurora’s overwhelming care for her family, she played a heavy role to ensure everyone was accounted for and made to feel loved.

With her gracious time on earth, she gave life to an outstanding family tree, where shared her authentic Mexican cooking skills, advice on life and care as if everyone was her own child. Holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were her very favorite times of the year when she got to bring her whole lineage together and celebrate life with a side of her amazing and unforgettable smile, laugh, and recipes of love.

Beyond her unconditional love and care for her family, Aurora had many work talents throughout her life that she proudly talked about to whoever wanted to lend an ear. She worked very hard from age 11 up until 78 because of her strong work ethic to provide for her family. She was very proud of this. Her talents consisted of working as a packer for fruit and vegetable companies in McAllen, Texas and King City, California; working as hospitality service for Holiday Inn in McAllen, Texas; working as a clothes and crafts seller at different flea markets in several South Texas “Valley” cities and border cities in Mexico like Progreso and Reynosa; creating custom clothing for her close friends and family; working as a provider for the elderly in McAllen, Texas; and working as a cuisine Mexican chef in Edinburg.

Because Aurora had so many talents, she also had many friendships. Some of the ones that she considered very special and stood out in her stories were Juanita (neighbor), Elida, Teresa, Mine, Sofia, Lile, Artimisa and Frances. Aurora loved to talk about her dancing days. She had an unquenchable thirst in life where she was always figuring out ways to make money, taking care of grandchildren, but always making time to go dancing during her younger days and talking about how happy that made her. Aurora also enjoyed reading watching Novelas on TV. You could be sure she would seize the opportunity for a novela anytime any day and enjoyed being surrounded by good friends to talk about the latest chisme. She is probably already watching novelas and talking chisme in heaven with her siblings, her loving son Jaime, and her wonderful friends. She enjoyed sewing and often outfitted her home and her children, as needed. Aurora also loved driving her car everywhere for any reason and at any time. Her car was like one of her arms. Enough times she took road trips all the way to California or one time to Oregon to work and also enjoy the sights on the way there and back. Her thirst for work and self-sufficiency and associated road trips definitely helped Aurora create good memories with her children.

Aurora was never scared to take on new opportunities and did everything with lots of honesty and integrity. Aurora was a proud woman who had character and very strong values and was well liked by many people, mostly due to her super positive energy. Aurora had incredible patience, and always made time to help anyone in need. She would say it all comes back to us. Aurora’s legacy will carry on forever reminding us that we control our attitudes and that we need to live a life full of meaningful acts of love and service, like Christ modeled for us.

There are not enough words that can express how grateful and blessed we are to Aurora’s provider, Frances, our neighbors, Rosy, Gina, Shelly, and Amalia, Esmeralda, the 1116 Nth 20th Street neighborhood community, the numerous ambulance people that that attended to her medical needs, as needed, and the Allstate Hospice outpatient agency. They did everything they could to keep her safe and comfortable until the day she departed. With grace and love, we know Aurora will always be looking over her family.

The visitation for Aurora will be held Monday, August 25, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a rosary at 7:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel, 3611 North Taylor Road, Mission, Texas 78573.

Mass will take place Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 2209 Kendlewood Ave, McAllen, Texas 78501.

Burial will be immediately after the Mass at Valley Memorial Gardens at 1:00 PM.

Flowers are a cherished way to honor Aurora, and the family would be grateful for your floral tributes