Aura Eroy

Aura Gonzalez Eroy peacefully joined the Lord on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. She was surrounded by her five daughters and many grandchildren.

Aura was born in Coamo, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Salinas, PR. She considered herself a "jibarita" because she loved farming and animals. In 1945, she and her mother joined her sister in Corpus Christi, Texas. There she met her future husband, Casimiro "Roy" Eroy, a Filipino cook in the US Navy. Later, the Eroys settled in Los Alamitos, California, with their growing family. Besides being a devoted mother, Aura was a community leader. She was active in the Anaheim Girl Scout program where she established a Girl Scout campground at the old Los Alamitos Eucalyptus Grove. She was also PTA president, a volunteer for the Los Alamitos Community Youth Center, and a Sunday school teacher.

After 25 years, Aura & Roy bought a new home with acreage in Watsonville, CA. A farm for Aura was a dream come true! She enjoyed having more land to raise animals and plant her own produce. Her pantry was overflowing with fruits and vegetables that she canned herself. Her garden was full of beautiful flowers, especially her yellow roses. Evenings were spent quilting at home and with friends.

She worked 20 years for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District as a Community Liaison, serving families with disabled children. She founded a family empowerment group, Grupo Renacer, that continues to this day. She led parenting groups at the County Jail Women's Facility, was a board member for Salud Para La Gente, and accompanied families to Sacramento to advocate for local needs with state representatives. After the 1989 earthquake, she matched volunteers with community needs, illustrating her knowledge of and dedication to the local migrant community.

After 30 years in Watsonville and with her health declining, she moved to Portland, Oregon. Everyday she walked her beloved dog Tommy, attended water aerobics classes, and spent many hours in her garden. She also volunteered with an immigration law group, building community among new immigrants. And she taught her grandchildren how to cook Puerto Rican food, which was shared at weekly family dinners in her home.

Finally in 2015, she moved back to Southern California as her memory started declining. She continued gardening and making friends. She enjoyed visits from her daughters, grandchildren, and their growing families. Aura was a model to us all by challenging herself to keep her mind and body active, making friends, and sharing her love and her light.

Aura, or as her grandchildren called her "Nana," is survived by her six children, Frances Larsen of Santa Rosa, CA, Rosa Eroy-Rice of Oceanside, CA, Mary Lou Hutton of Los Alamitos, CA, Michael Eroy of Marysville, CA, Joan O'Brien of West Linn, OR, and Ramona Cahn of Portland, OR; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Published in The Pajaronian · February 24, 2022