Aurora S. Rangel went to be with the Lord on January 19, 2022 at the age of 94. Aurora was born in Sequin, Texas, and was the oldest of nine children. She was raised in Luling, Texas. At an early age she came to understand the importance of family. As the oldest of nine children, she left school in the fourth grade to work to help her parents support her eight brothers and sisters. Later her love of family carried over to the raising of her two daughters.
She married Frank Rincon and moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she worked for over 25 years as a seamstress at Finesilver Manufacturing. Aurora managed to juggle work, home activities, and raising her two daughters. After working long and hard hours at Finesilver, Aurora would stay up at night making aprons that she would sell to ensure that her daughters obtained the education that she did not receive. Her hard work and sacrifices allowed both daughters to acquire a college education. After her divorce from Frank, she married Rafael Rangel and together they enjoyed many years of fishing and camping with family. She retired from Levi Manufacturing to care for her husband, Rafael Rangel, until his death. In addition to caring for her husband, Rafael, she became caretaker to her mother for several years.
After the death of her husband Rafael, Aurora enjoyed traveling with family and friends to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Mexico and numerous places in the United States. Aurora was always young at heart and very independent. She loved to dance and she enjoyed dancing well into her eighties even if she had to take a shot or two of brandy to get her legs moving.
When Aurora was not traveling, she continued to help others by delivering Meals on Wheels and she was an active member of the Guadalupanas at St Leonard’s Church. Aurora’s faith was very important to her and she prayed the rosary daily. She loved to work with her hands and became a member of the San Antonio Conservation Society where she enjoyed making the colorful cascarones sold at NIOSA. During Fiesta she could be found selling cascarones on Tuesday nights at NIOSA.
Aurora was preceded in death by baby son Frank Rincon Jr., her husband, Rafael Rangel; parents Julian and Guadalupe Sanchez; brothers and sisters, Ezquiel Sanchez (Pauline), Julian Sanchez (Consuelo), Hortensia Herrera (Mike) and Robert Sanchez. Aurora is survived by: Rodolfo Sanchez (Terry), Beatrice Baker (Larry), Eudelia Montana (Juan), Domingo Sanchez (Virginia), her daughters Maria Ponce “Helen” (Herbert) and Irene Arredondo (Edward); grandchildren, David Barrientos (Nikki) and John Barrientos (Sara); great-grandchildren, Michelle Jaurequi (Richard), Michael Barrientos, Ava Barrientos and Lilliana Barrientos. Visitation will begin 5:00 pm Wednesday, February 16, 2022 with a 7:00 pm Rosary to be recited at Roy Akers, 515 N. Main Ave. A procession will depart the funeral home at 9:30 am Thursday, February 17, 2022 for a 10:00 am Mass at St. Leonard Catholic Church, 8510 S. Zarzamora. A committal service will occur Thursday, February 17, 2022 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.
