Aurora R. Bobadilla joined her husband in the Kingdom of Heaven on Saturday evening. Her passing came without warning. After a birthday celebration with family and friends days ago, she spent her last day with her children enjoying lunch and a movie. Aurora lived her life to the fullest and cherished every moment! Her 2014 calendar was filled with upcoming events she planned on attending and invitations she had accepted.
Aurora was a second generation Texan who came from very humble beginnings. Her parents were migrant farm workers; and as a result, much of her childhood was spent doing back breaking work in fields across the country. As a child, she experienced institutional racism when teachers changed her name to Dora Rogers because it was easier for them to pronounce. Although her family was poor, they were rich in many ways. They were filled with the love and the pride instilled by her parents.
Aurora was very adventurous! In the late 40's, her dogged determination convinced her father to let her travel to Mexico City to student French. While "studying", she met the love of her life on a blind date. Raul was a medical student at IPN. The rest is history. They married, settled in Dallas, and enjoyed 59 years of marriage before his passing. Together, they raised four children - Chris, Michele, Elena, and Raul. Aurora was also the doting grandmother of three, as she liked to say, " the smartest and most handsome grandsons in the world." Her grandsons - Raul, Niko, and Jac filled her heart with boundless joy and happiness.
Aurora lived a servant leader's life dedicated to God, her family, and her community. Mom always encouraged her children to reach for the stars. Nothing was impossible. Options were limitless. There were no boundaries except the one's you placed on yourself. She believed that if you could see it...you could be it. After putting her children through school, she told my dad that he wanted to return to school herself. As a result of working in the fields as a child, she had not graduated from high school. So, in her fifties and with my dad's unwavering support, she embarked on a new journey. The pursuit of a college degree!
After getting her GED, she earned an Associate's Degree from El Centro College. Mom then received scholarships to attend Texas Woman's University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Why stop there? She went on to earn a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Southern Methodist University. Along the way, she received countless academic honors and was inducted into the Alpha Chi Honor Society. She and my dad also received the Lifetime Award for their volunteerism in feeding the homeless at The Stewpot located at The First Presbyterian Church, Dallas.
Her passion for education came full circle when she became a bilingual teacher in the Dallas ISD. Through her own life's journey, she knew that education would change the trajectory of her students' lives. She filled them with the love of learning and the confidence to pursue their dreams.
From her humble beginnings, mom met and married the love of her life; raised her four children and relished in their achievements; adored her grandsons and was so proud of each of their accomplishments; traveled to Russia, Morocco, Spain, Mexico, and many other exotic places; earned her college degree; loved her God; and, enjoyed the love of extended family and dear friends.
Mom, we will miss you more that words can express, but we are grateful that God gave you to us. We will miss your hugs and kisses, your notes of encouragement, your "dichos" that were meant to teach us a lesson, your soft hands slathering us with Vick's whenever we got sick, your bowl of homemade soup, and your warm breathe as you kissed our foreheads. Our hearts ache but we rejoice that you and dad are together again embraced and dancing to Amor, Amor, Amor.
Thank you to our family and friends; our church; our pastor, Rev. Joe Clifford; our WWHS classmates; our colleagues; mom's doctors; neighbors; Mayor Rawlings; Minerva; Brenda; Yolanda; Amy; Debbie; Meriann; and each of you who helped make mom's life so rich and full.
A Celebration of Life honoring Aurora R. Bobadilla will be held on Saturday February 15, 2014 at 11:00 AM at The First Presbyterian Church - Dallas, Sudie George Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Raul M. Bobadilla Scholarship Fund, The University of Texas at Arlington, Office of Development, 701 S. Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX 76019. The scholarship funds supports students pursuing degrees in bilingual education.
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