Aurelia V. Vega

Aurelia V. Vega, born on March 6, 1928, in Tubac, Arizona, passed away peacefully in Tucson, Arizona, on September 8, 2025. Her journey through life was marked by a deep love for family, community, and the culinary arts, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew her.

In her early years, Aurelia dedicated herself to cooking, a passion that led her to numerous positions in restaurants and organizations. Her culinary journey included stints at Club 21, Spanish Trail, Borton Elementary School, the Girl Scouts, Whispering Pines, and Mount Lemmon. One of her proudest moments came from cooking for Dan Blocker, who portrayed Hoss in the beloved Western series, Bonanza. After many fulfilling years in the kitchen, Aurelia transitioned to a role at the University of Arizona, Main Library, where she served as a library assistant. In this capacity, she became a beacon of assistance to patrons, trained student workers, and diligently located books and materials, all while fostering a welcoming environment.

Education was of great importance to Aurelia, who took great pride in obtaining her GED and pursuing various courses throughout her life, including studies in basic nutrition, accounting, keyboarding, basic computer skills, and childcare at Pima College during this time she made meaningful contributions to her community by helping the elderly with transportation to their medical appointments.

Aurelia was more than a skilled cook and dedicated worker; she was a cherished Mother, Grandma, Sister, Tia, and friend, affectionately known as Grandma M to her great-grandchildren. Her warm personality and generous spirit cultivated connections that enriched the lives of those around her. She had a lively interest in crafting, gardening, and baking, alongside an enduring love for traveling and collecting items, including Disney movies. She also had a fondness for animals, often giving homes to pets, with her beloved dog Phoebe being one of her dear companions.

She is remembered lovingly by her children: Rudy (Patricia), Richard, Rupert (Sally), Robert, and Edie (Gilbert). Aurelia leaves behind a rich legacy through her grandchildren Andrea, Jeremy, Joseph, Monica, Eric, Alex, Vanessa, Rosalia, Xavier, Jaime, and Estrella, as well as 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Aurelia was preceded in death by her parents, Ruperto and Carmen Vasquez, as well as her siblings: Cayetano, Ruperto, Alberto, Amelia, and Angelina.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Via Elegante and the staff and nurses at Hospice of the Valley.

Her life was a testament to resilience, love, and community, and she will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Friends and family are invited to honor her memory at the visitation scheduled for October 1, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a Rosary at 9:00 AM and Mass at 10:30 AM at Santa Cruz Catholic Church, before proceeding for burial at South Lawn Cemetery at noon. Services will take place at Martinez Funeral Chapels - Tucson, located at 2580 S 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713.