Aurora Orozco, 92, of Cuero passed away Wednesday, February 9, 2011 in Austin. She was born May 8, 1918 in Cerralvo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to the late Lorenzo Estrada and Gertudis Toscano. She married Primitivo Orozco in 1950 in Mercedes, Texas. A 1938 graduate of Mercedes High School, Aurora attended the University of Texas at Austin, Extension Course in Business from 1947-49. She was employed as a salesperson for Lieberman's Department Store in Cuero from 1967 to 1985. She was a well known Mexican American community leader in Cuero from the 1960s to the late 1980s and served as secretary of Familias Unidas of Cuero from 1975 to 1977 and as a member of the Cuero Voter Registration and Education Organization from 1987 to 1992, as well as secretary and member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) from 1972 to 1975 and from 1978 to 1982, respectively. She also served as a member of the City of Cuero City Council Advisory Committee from 1985 to 1990, and juror for the DeWitt County Grand Jury in1979 and 1984. Her participation at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church included president of the Church Council from 1972 to 1981; president and secretary of Las Guadalupanas from 1971 to 1981 and 1989 to 1992, respectively; and bilingual lector from 1976 to 1999. After seeing her six children graduate from college, she became a writer, penning both poems and short stories and volunteered at the Mexic-Arte Museum from 1984- 2010. In 2001, Aurora attended President George W. Bush First State Dinner for Pres. Fox of Mexico with daughter Sylvia. Among her publications are "Mexican Blood Runs Through My Veins," in Speaking Chicana, Voice, Power, and Identity in1999. Unpublished literary works include her autobiography and over 35 short stories, 50 poems, 10 political essays, and multiple travel logs. An article about Aurora written by her daughter, Dr. Cynthia E. Orozco appeared in 2006 in Latinas in the United States: a Historical. Aurora enjoyed reading novels, reading newspapers, visiting museums, traveling, crocheting, and embroidery.

She is survived by her daughters, Maria Teresa Orozco of Houston, Sylvia Orozco of Austin, and Irma Orozco (Claudio Lopez) of San Antonio; her sons, Eddie Orozco of Houston and Robert Orozco of San Antonio; sisters, Ketta Flores and Tules Estrada, both of Mercedes; brother, Alejandro Estrada (Gloria) of Mercedes; grandchildren, Lalli Lopez, Claudio Lopez Jr., Adrian Orozco, and Zachary Orozco, all of San Antonio , and Hillary Casas of Houston; and one great-grandchild, Anthony Ojeda of San Antonio. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 11, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a rosary recited at 7 p.m. at Freund Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be Saturday, February 12, 2011, 2 p.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Cuero with Father Kirby Hlavaty officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Robert Orozco, Eddie Orozco, Claudio Lopez Jr., Claudio Lopez, Adrian Orozco, and Zachary Orozco.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mexic-Arte Museum, PO Box 2273, Austin, Texas 78768.

Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.