Aurora T. Gonzales

Aurora Theresa Gonzales, age 96, a resident of Rawlins for over 74 years, passed away on April 13, 2025, in Laramie, WY.

Aurora was born on August 3, 1928, in Big Springs, Nebraska to Tedorita (Olguin) and Trinidad Pacheco. On January 12, 1949, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, she married Eloy Gonzales. She was a long-time communicant of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and enjoyed taking care of her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eloy Gonzales in 2020; her father in 1964; her mother in 1994; brothers, Frank Pacheco in 1994; Arthur Pacheco and Jose “Santy” Pacheco; sisters, Sylvia Pacheco and Lucille Vigil ; sons, Daniel Gonzales in 1949, and Eloy Gonzales, Jr. in 2020; three grandsons, Daniel Gonzales, Andy Vigil in 2015 and Patrick Flores in 2024; and daughter-in-law, Vivian Gonzales.

Aurora is survived by 11 children: Robert Gonzales, Frances (Jimmy) Vigil, Julia (Dave) Cruz, Yolanda (Ralph) Padilla, Anthony (Jackie) Gonzales, Alice (Ted) Garcia, Elsie Sanchez, Cathy (Lawrence) Pino, Richard Gonzales, John L. (Veronica) Gonzales, and Trinidad (Eva) Gonzales; two siblings, Joe Pacheco and Juan Pacheco; daughter-in-law, Beatrice Gonzales; son-in-law, Phil Sanchez; 31 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren and 16 great-great grandchildren with 3 more on the way this year.

A Vigil for the Deceased with recitation of the Rosary will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Rawlins Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her six eldest grandsons: Alex Vigil, Jerome Flores, Teddy Garcia, Jr., Jonathan Sanchez, Nicholas Gonzales and John Gonzales, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be her nine eldest granddaughters: Marlene Gonzales, Lisa Whitworth, Stacey Gonzales, Stephanie Sullivan, Amy Pino, Monica Gonzales, Krystal Cordova, Racquel Gonzales and Mariah Martinez.