Obituary of Aurelia Jurado Gutierrez

Aurelia Jurado Gutierrez passed away at 81 years old on January 4, 2022 in Dover, NJ She was born on September 26, 1940 in Cartago, Colombia and immigrated to the United States with her sister, Heliodora, in 1964. Once in the United States she lived in Connecticut then moved to Newark, NJ and finally to Dover, NJ where her daughter, Kathy and son, Jerry reside.

She is survived by her siblings Helidora Gutierrez, Oliva Jurado and Roque Jurado, her children Katherine Aragon and Jerry Gutierrez, her grandchildren Michael, Sapphire, Keyanni, Amethyst, and Amber Aragon, her great-granddaughter Gemma, and her beloved cockatiel, Patojito. She was preceded in death by her parents Devora Bravo and Jose R.Jurado and siblings, Alejandro Jurado, Alicia Jurado, and Lida Margoth Bravo.

In her younger years, her family owned a coffee farm and cantina. Aurelia was passionate about the coffee farm but the family ended up selling it and relocating to Cali after her father died. She grew up in the city and helped raise her younger siblings. She would eventually immigrate to the United States to begin a new life.

She arrived in Norwalk, Connecticut as a nanny. Where she met her husband, Gerado Gutierrez. Aurelia and Gerado settled down with their two children in Newark, NJ. This is where she would spend most of her life.

She was a talented young woman and her family adored her cooking. The favorites were her lasagna and sancocho. There was never a holiday where she did not want to be the chef. Every holiday her family would be there to celebrate. Around the holidays, she would spend hours on end setting up her Christmas lights and her Pesebre, a Christmas village and nativity. She adored collecting items to add to her pesebre each year. Most of all she loved spending time with her bird, Patojito who would sit on her shoulder day in and day out.

Aurelia was a talented woman when it came to sewing. She made all of her grandchildren’s dresses for their communions. The beading on each of the dresses were intricate and amazing in pictures. As she grew older, making the dresses became harder and harder. Her dresses made those memorable days even more special.

Throughout her life she battled various health conditions. She also would undergo many surgeries, and each time she persisted. Aurelia was a very strong and resilient woman. Despite being fully vaccinated, she was met with her toughest battle, COVID–19. Aurelia will always be remembered and will be missed by those she loved.

There will be a Mass on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart Church, 4 Richards Ave, Dover, NJ 07801. The family asks that you wear a mask during the Mass regardless of vaccination status.