Aurora Prado Pastrano

Carbondale

Aurora Prado Pastrano, 96, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 14, 2024, under the compassionate and dedicated care of caregivers at Manor Court of Carbondale, with her daughter by her side.

Aurora was a profoundly talented musician, whose first love was music. A self-taught pianist, guitar player, vocalist, and songwriter, she wrote the music and lyrics to at least 53, songs. She was once known as La Dama de la Canción Romántica, “Lady of the Romantic Song.” With her group, Las Generalas, in Los Angeles, she was a pioneer female mariachi, as the first female professional guitarrón player in the first all-female mariachi band in the United States. She contributed greatly to her Mexican American music, as memorialized in the book entitled Mucho Corazón, written by her loving daughter.

Aurora Prado Pastrano was born on May 14, 1927, in El Paso, Texas to Esteban and Susana Prado. She married her second husband, Nick Pastrano. She was preceded in death by her parents, six siblings, her husband Nick, son-in-law John E. Marzolf, and step-grandson Zachary John Arthur Marzolf.

Aurora is survived by her daughter, Alicia Chavira Marzolf; grandchildren, Patrick Reinoso, Jeremy Reinoso, Miguela Marzolf, and Sahuaro Marzolf; two great-grandchildren; sister, Bertha Chavira; nieces and nephews, Gloria Padilla, Joe “Pepe” Chavira, Bertha Carcich, Eddie Chavira, and Connie Freeman, and multiple other members of her extended family whose love kept her connected to her native Texas.

Aurora placed her family above all her accomplishments in life. She was a woman of conviction, exemplary strength of will, incredible spirit, and an enormous loving heart.  Her memory will live on through her music and the unending love of her surviving family.

Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home is in charge of cremation services. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Aurora Prado Pastrano, please visit our floral store.