Aurora Cervantes Gonzalez
We lost our beloved centenarian, Aurora Gonzalez, on August 29, 2025. Our mother was one of the strongest people our family knew. Having been born six weeks before the Santa Barbara earthquake of 1925, we’re all convinced her life of spirit and strength started there. Aurora was a child of the depression, and she never shied away from hard work. She was a second-generation Santa Barbaran and attended local schools and graduated from Santa Barbara High School. Her family lived briefly in South San Francisco, but when her father died in 1936, the family returned to Santa Barbara. At just 11 years old, Aurora’s strength was at the forefront as she took on a leadership role in the family. She took care of her siblings, did a lot of the household work and took care of the resident plants and animals.
During World War II, Aurora took on the work of a riveter in the Los Angeles area, doing her part to help with the war effort. Once she married our father, Benito Gonzalez, they raised a family of six children on the Westside of Santa Barbara. Aurora was the original HGTV DIY lady. No home or gardening project was too small or large for her. Many rooms were painted, paneled or even bricked with her own hands. Her creative streak was strong as she seemed to sew just about every day, whether it be her own clothes, her children’s clothes, curtains or quilts. Her hands were always busy, as was her mind. Aurora had no pretenses and was as down to earth as they come. Aurora’s strength had a counterpoint of fun-loving mischievousness and she wasn’t above telling salty stories or jokes.
Aurora joined the staff of Cottage Hospital as a CNA in the mid-seventies. She worked on the orthopedic floor and she held herself to a high standard when it came to her work. Not surprisingly, Aurora was no pushover, ever. She stood up for what was right and expected others to do the same. Amazingly enough, Aurora retired on a Friday; the following Monday, she started caring for her two youngest grandchildren. When she was asked why she didn’t take a break before she began her new calling, she said she didn’t need one. So typical of Aurora. Thus began a lifelong wonderful relationship between Aurora and her grandsons, Michael and Brian. After our father Benito died in December 1999, we weren’t sure our mother would be okay on her own. She rose to the occasion and settled into life as a widow. She never complained and still remained strong and tough. She still kept as busy as ever because it wasn’t in her make-up to sit still.
As Aurora entered her final years, she was not happy that her body could no longer keep up. She remained as independent as ever until she was hospitalized twice for bad falls at home. Then she reluctantly found a new home at The Californian where she was well taken care of and loved by her second family. Aurora was so tough that after two strokes, she was placed on hospice care for almost a year until she rallied. She officially graduated from hospice and although her health was declining, she never complained or felt sorry for herself. We began to think our mother had superpowers because of her warrior attitude.
On May 13th of this year we celebrated her 100th birthday with a small bash at the Californian. Three months later, our mother became ill and began to decline. Every time we saw her and asked her how she was, she would always say “fine”. Even on the last day of her life she still said that. Many thanks to all the staff at The Californian for the care and love they showed our mother.
We will miss her so very much but we know her spirit and strength will be with us. Aurora was preceded in the death by her daughter, Rosalie Cervantes. Aurora leaves behind her children Alfred Gonzalez, Barbara Cordero, Sally Rose, Gilbert Gonzalez, Geronimo Gonzalez and Elvira Rose (Bryant). She also leaves behind all of her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Our warrior has now become our legend.
Graveside service at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Friday September 19th at noon.
