[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3857-3858]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING MS. AURELIA LOPEZ GONZALEZ ON HER 90TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 11, 2011

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the celebration 
of Ms. Aurelia Lopez Gonzalez's 90th birthday. With nearly a century 
passing, Ms. Gonzalez has dedicated her life to her family, loved ones, 
and giving back to the community.
  Ms. Gonzalez was born March 11, 1921 at the San Bartolo Ranch near 
Cadereyta Jimenez, Nuevo Leon. At a young age, Ms. Gonzalez and her 
parents migrated to the United States after their wooden home was 
washed away in a flood. At the age of nine, Ms. Gonzalez enrolled in 
the La Escuellita Amarilla Public School. She went on to attend 
Christen Jr. High School and by 1943 she graduated from Martin High 
School. In 1993, Ms. Gonzalez was able to attend the Martin High 
School's 50 year reunion at the La Posada Hotel in Laredo, Texas.

[[Page 3858]]

  Throughout her life, Ms. Gonzalez has worked to support herself and 
her family at the Law Offices of Phelps and Phelps, S & H Kress Store, 
McCllends and H.E.B. grocery store. By 1948, she married Mr. Eusebio 
Busto Gonzalez. A year later, Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez welcomed their 
first child, Adolfo and later would go on to have two more children, 
Thomas and Eusebio Jr. Unfortunately, Mr. Gonzalez contracted Lou 
Gehrig Disease in 1950. For the next 10 years, she tried to find a cure 
for the disease through taking trips around Texas and Mexico. In 
November of 1960, Eusebio passed away leaving her to care for herself 
and their three sons. After her husband's passing, Ms. Gonzalez went 
back to work with S & H Kress, until they closed down in 1970. Soon 
after, Ms. Gonzalez started working with H.E.B. grocery store in 
Laredo, Texas. She worked with them for 12 years until her retirement 
in 1982.
  In her spare time, Ms. Gonzalez garnered a passion for baking. Her 
cakes and cookies, known as Ojaracas, can be found around Laredo in 
weddings, Quinceaneras, birthdays, and Christmas. Additionally, after 
her time with H.E.B., Ms. Gonzalez took up teaching classes on cake 
decorating. The annual Wilton Cake decorating convention is where she 
picked up many new ideas to take back to her students. She also 
decorates bouquets, which can be seen during All Saints Day. Currently, 
Ms. Gonzalez spends her days tending to her home garden, exercising, 
and staying healthy. Her devotion to the Catholic faith does not 
waiver; she attends church every week. For nearly a century, Ms. 
Gonzalez has dedicated her life to the community and touching the lives 
of her family and loved ones.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had the time to recognize and 
celebrate the tremendous life of Ms. Aurelia Gonzalez and her 90th 
birthday celebration.

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