Obituary of Aurea Evarista Carter Cotto

Aurea Evarista Carter Cotto passed away on Friday, April 20, 2018, at the Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Schenectady, New York.  She was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on June 3, 1922, to Cristino Cotto and Eduvigis Ortiz.  “Vari”, as she was known, was the fifth of six children of this marriage.  The Cotto family were rising prominent Protestant ministers, educators and missionaries in Puerto Rico, which helped define Aurea’s sense of spirituality. Aurea graduated from Bayamon High School in 1940 and enrolled in the Bayamon Charity District Hospital School of Nursing, completing her Nursing License in December 1943. At the height of WWII, the U.S. Army Nurses Corp (ANC) came to the school to recruit nurses. With numerous wounded Puerto Rican soldiers returning from the Pacific, American nurses struggled to overcome the language barrier.  Moved by the soldiers’ situation, Aurea volunteered immediately.   On August 29, 1944, she became the second Puerto Rican nurse to enlist in the U.S. Army. She served as Second Lieutenant in the 161st General Hospital in San Juan and at Camp Tortuguero at the 296 Station Hospital in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.  She received an honorable discharged on June 8, 1947 with the rank of First Lieutenant.  She was awarded the American Theatre Ribbon and the WWII Victory Medal. 

Aurea 's service to the nation appears in the: Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. under World War I & World War II and Puerto Rican Women in Defense of the Nation.

Following her time in the army, and saddened by the island’s extreme poverty, Aurea left for the U.S. to further her education. She went to live with her brother, Pablo, a Disciples of Christ minister and founder of La Hermosa Church in New York City, and his wife Epifania (Fanny). Aurea enrolled at New York University and worked at St. Luke's Hospital.  She obtained an R.N. license in the State of New York on April 25, 1949. She met her future husband Roy L. Carter at Pablo's home.  In 1951 Aurea moved to San Francisco to marry Roy. She received an R.N. license in California on Feb 27, 1951. She later earned a B.A. (Nursing) in 1952 and an M.A. (Sociology) in 1953 from San Francisco State College.  She was Director of Nurses in Oakland and at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley.  

Aurea and Roy had four children:  Marguerite and Myrna (both born in California), and Roy and Nephtali (both in New Jersey).  In 1959, the family moved to Hoboken, New Jersey. Aurea taught Spanish at Hoboken High School and Roy served as Presbyterian minister.  In 1966 Aurea moved with her children to Puerto Rico. She accepted the position of Professor of Health at World University in Hato Rey, and taught Anatomy and Physiology for many years.  In 1975, she worked as Director of Nurses for the American Red Cross Blood Bank in San Juan.  She transferred to Michigan with the Red Cross in 1976.  A few years later, in 1982, she returned to New York City, working as a visiting nurse in private duty.  She and her youngest daughter, Myrna, moved to California in 1985.  Aurea worked in a nursing home and an adult daycare center.  They moved to Florida in 1990 where Aurea retired after nearly 50 years in nursing.  In 2004, she moved-in with her daughter, Myrna, and her family. In January 2005 they relocated to Albany, New York. Surrounded by family, she enjoyed the later part of her life spending time with her youngest grandchildren.   

Aurea had many lifelong passions: gardening, reading, and writing.  She cultivated flower gardens (roses, carnations, orchids), tropical plants and fruit trees in every house she owned.  She treasured having loving pets (cats, dogs) throughout her life.  True to her name, which means “golden,” she loved the sun, sunrises and sunsets. She particularly loved Sundays, dressing up, attending church and preparing a Puerto Rican meal for her family and friends.  Always welcoming, she enjoyed a cup of coffee and good conversation.  Her favorite books were mostly about nature, the universe, history, religion, literature (in Spanish and English) and nursing. She enjoyed classical music, folk music, hymns, and ballads. She was also drawn to art, theatre, and ballet.  A copious note taker, she kept journals and corresponded with family and friends over the years.  She enjoyed traveling, taking the opportunity to learn about cultures and places.  An excellent storyteller, she often reminisced about her childhood in Puerto Rico.  True to self, she was generous and charitable all her life. She cared for veterans, St. Joseph’s Indian School, The Alzheimer’s Association, especially among other things.

An advocate for women, Aurea overcame obstacles all her life. Her faith in God gave her strength.   In one of her entries she wrote, “My mother taught me these principles … (have) discipline, (be) loving, (be) responsible.”       

Brave, competent, independent, intelligent, curious, beautiful, noble, full of wisdom.  Her laughter and smile were sincere and heartwarming.               

Perseverante en sus sueños, luchadora infatigable, valiente, curiosa por la vida, proponente de la educación y seguidora de metas, defensora de las causas nobles y ferviente creyente que el amor a Dios, amor a la familia, y el reconocimiento que la reverencia a la biología del espíritu humano es la mayor forma de adorar a Dios.  

Surviving her are her beloved children:  Marguerite Cotto, Myrna Carter (Javier Gonzalez), Roy (Laura) Carter, and Nephtali Carter (Migdalia Hernandez), and her adored grandchildren: Ana M. Nelson, Angeline R. Nelson, Elizabeth L. Carter, Elena M. Carter, Myrna K. Gonzalez, and Gustavo J. Gonzalez, and great-grandchild: Malcolm Carter, born in January 2018. Also surviving are her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces, great grandnephews, and Bogie, her loyal Golden Retriever.  She was known affectionately as “Losa” to her children and “Abuelita” and “Aba” to her grandchildren.  

Mami, we adore you, and we dearly miss you. We will keep your memory alive forever.   

The family recognizes with gratitude the nursing and auxiliary staff of Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing (formerly Capital Living Nursing and the Dutch Manor) for the years of care, dedication, and love towards Aurea.  You were her "angels".

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service which will be held on Saturday, June 30, beginning at 2 PM, with the US Army providing Military Honors.  Visitation prior to the service will begin at 1 PM, from the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203.