Aurelia B. Gomez

Aurelia B. Gómez, “Mom” passed away peacefully on December 14, 2017, in Loma Linda, California. She was born on November 25, 1922 in Costa Rica, Sinaloa, México.

Mom is predeceased by Manuel F. Gómez, her husband of 65 years and her son Jorge. She is survived by her sons Rubén, Luis, Manuel and daughter, Rose Gómez Brandon. She is also survived by sixteen (16) grandchildren and fourteen (14) great-grand children, who affectionately referred to her as “Ema” or “Grandma”. Two more great-grand children are expected for delivery early next year. They will be told of the numerous memories of Ema/Grandma and of their great grandfather “Empa/Grandpa”.

Mom’s mother Rosa Barraza, was a seamstress. Her father, Francisco Bustamante was a Captain in Pancho Villa’s army. Mom never met her father. He died in a battle at the end of the Mexican Revolutionary War, when Mom was not yet born.

Mom had to leave school after the sixth grade in order to go to work to help support her mother and sister.

After marriage to Dad - Manuel F. Gómez, Mom immigrated to the United States in 1946 and settled with Dad in Colton where she has continually resided.

Mom worked in a laundromat in Colton and then began buying and selling jewelry. She grew this activity into a business and for twenty (20) years…she on her own, ran a successful jewelry-business enterprise.

Mom was a very devoted and loving wife and mother to her five (5) children. Since she was unable to finish her education, she was always motivating her children to seriously pursue their educational opportunities. Due to these efforts, all of her children attended and finished college and several went on to pursue professional careers in law and medicine.

Mom has always loved to cook for her friends and family. When her children and friends visited, Mom always had something cooking, which she generously offered and served. Chiles rellenos, albóndigas, cocido, calabasitas, freshly cooked beans and rice were always plentiful. If you could not stay and eat with Mom at her home then she packaged a meal for you to take home.

On Sunday, she cooked menudo. During the Christmas season, she was always making dozens and dozens of tamales for a Christmas Eve feast. You were also given a dozen tamales to take home.

Mom also loved to tell stories to her friends and family, particularly stories that made you laugh. She always had a story to match the subject of the conversation. She had an infectious laugh that made her and her listeners happy.

We will forever miss her.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2017, 10 a.m., at Montecito Valley View Chapel and burial to follow at Montecito Memorial Park, both at 3520 E. Washington St., Colton, California.