Maria Aurora "Borie" S. Perez, age 80, passed away on Monday, May 25, at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Aurora was born on October 14, 1945, in La Feria, Texas, to Apolonio and Juanita Sanchez. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and the love of her life, Rafael C. Perez; her youngest daughter, Marissa Perez; her brother, Evaristo Sanchez; and her sisters, Severa Badillo and Maria Aguiniaga.

She is survived by her sister, Petra Garza, her loving children: daughter Annabelle Bonilla and husband Richard Bonilla; son Rafael Orlando Perez; and son Edward Perez. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren: Larissa Lynn Villanueva and husband Travis, Britney Martika Cothren and spouse Rachel, Trevor Austen Perez and wife Chelsie, and Brandon Richard Bonilla and wife Ashton. Aurora was blessed with four great-grandchildren: Harleigh Jane Villanueva, Travis Rex Villanueva, Talon James Villanueva, and Aurora Quinn Villanueva. Along with numerous extended family members and dear friends.

Aurora completed the eighth grade, which was common for many young people of her generation in migrant worker families throughout the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Despite limited educational opportunities, she possessed remarkable intelligence and a lifelong love of learning. She wrote beautifully, excelled with numbers, enjoyed drawing and coloring, and even embraced modern technology in her later years, learning to text and send pictures and attachments. Above all, she was eager to learn more about Jesus and deepen her faith.

A devoted homemaker, Aurora created a warm, welcoming, and impeccably clean home for her husband and children. She was known for her homemade tortillas, which she lovingly prepared for family, relatives, and friends, as well as for the delicious Mexican and American meals she shared with those she loved. She was also a faithful and supportive preacher's wife whose steadfast encouragement of her husband's ministry was admired by all who knew her.

Aurora's faith was centered on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and on the belief that God desires a sincere and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. After being saved in a Pentecostal church in 1974 and later worshipping for forty-one years at the Church of God of the Firstborn, she came to place greater emphasis on a genuine relationship with Christ than on any church name, religion, or denomination.

She was outgoing, loving, and deeply devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and church family. Her kindness, faithfulness, and unwavering love will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Though our hearts ache with her absence, we find comfort in knowing that she finished the race, fought the good fight, and has entered the pearly gates. We rejoice in the hope that she is now with Jesus, reunited with her beloved husband Rafael ("Rafa") and her precious daughter Marissa ("Pinita").

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who have offered prayers, support, and expressions of love during this time of loss.