Aurora Carmen Lokka

Mrs. Aurora Carmen (Ardanaz) Lokka
November 30, 1928 – July 4, 2023
Aurora Lokka passed away on July 4, 2023, in the presence of her three sons and other family members. She lived a full 94-years old. While a true matriarch of the family, she did so alone after her husband Alfred “Duke” Lokka passed away in 2011.
Aurora was born in Los Angeles, CA and attended local schools, including Inglewood High School. At a time when women didn’t have the educational and employment opportunities that men did, Aurora got her BS and MS degrees in Education from the University of Southern California (USC), followed by more than 20 years as an educator. Having grown up in a bilingual household, Aurora taught Spanish, English, and whatever was needed as a substitute. Following the move from Southern California to Sonoma in 1974, she became involved in local organizations such as the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Friends of the Library, Vintage House, and the Church Mouse thrift shop.
Aurora married her university sweetheart, Duke Lokka, with whom she celebrated 59 years of marriage. Always together, they could be seen walking hand in hand. She was very proud of her 3 sons: Duke (wife Beth Hogan); Kirk (Deborah), and Wade (Aileen). In later years, Aurora enjoyed spending time with her sons and their wives, her seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Aurora grew up dancing. She performed in local productions as well as at least one Shirley Temple movie, “The Littlest Rebel.” Her favorite style was Spanish dancing, including the “Jota”, and she was a master of the castanets. Her commitment to USC was lifelong. She watched all of the USC football games and would share her pride or disappointment in each game with her sons (especially Duke, who graduated from USC as well).
She enjoyed cooking and baking for family at home and at family gatherings. She enjoyed knitting and made Christmas stockings by hand for each of her sons and grandchildren. Her almost daily e-mails to her sons included the clever use of emojis. She experienced a life well lived.
Aurora will be buried next to her loving husband at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sonoma on July 28, 2023. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Meals on Wheels, the Sonoma Valley Fire Department, or any of the organizations above that Aurora contributed to.

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