Aurora Lerma Abang M.D.

Aurora Lerma Abang, M.D., age 89, passed away on January 29th, 2026 at Norton Audubon Hospital from complications of her long battle with colon cancer. She was born on December 5th, 1936, in Manila, Philippines, the daughter of Francisco Lerma and Filomena Cachuela.

Aurora, "Rory or Baby," was a beautiful, amazing and loving wife, mother, sister and physician. She started medical school at the University of Santo Thomas and graduated from medical school from Manila Central University in the Philippines. In 1965, she married her classmate Raul S. Abang, MD and immigrated to the United States in 1965. She and her husband began their practice in medicine in Columbus, OH. Rory eventually found her niche in psychiatry and worked in various cities in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Their journey took them to practicing medicine in Portsmouth, OH; London, KY; Harlan, KY; Richmond, KY and Chattanooga, TN, before they made their home in Elizabethtown, KY in 1978.

In Elizabethtown, she chose to step away from her professional career to devote herself fully to being a loving wife, mother and homemaker. She also started a bridal business in Elizabethtown, Lady Rowena Bridals, which she ran for nearly fifteen years. She returned to practicing psychiatry with Seven Counties Services in Louisville around 1990 and retired from work in 2010.

After she lost her husband, Raul, in 2010, she continued to be a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother. She was a blessing and role model to her family whose presence reflected strong family values, generosity and faith. She was a very giving person not only to her immediate family but also made time and supported distant relatives and friends.

She had a deep love for music – playing the piano, listening to classical works, listening to her children and grandchildren play music and sing and finding joy in dance. She loved cooking – trying out new recipes, traveling, gardening and entertaining family and friends in her home. She was also a woman of deep and unwavering faith – a devout Catholic whose life was grounded in daily prayers. All of these filled her life with happiness and joy.

Aurora was blessed with a long and fruitful life, lived faithfully and generously and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Raul S. Abang, M.D.; her grandson, Christopher Overley; and her brothers, Raymundo Lerma and Raphael Lerma.

She is survived by her three children, Ana Rowena Overley, M.D., and her husband, David Overley, M.D., Eric Abang, D.M.D., and Anthony Abang, M.D., and his wife, Leah; 8 grandchildren, Alexander, Christina, Elizabeth, Harrison, Holden, Greer, Bryce and Soren; and her sister, Nonie Lerma.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Priscilla Villaroman, Dr. Michael Driscoll and Nicole Crawford, APRN, and all the nurses and staff at the Norton Cancer Institute for their compassionate and devoted care.

Visitation will be 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Thursday, February 5th, Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road.

Her funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am on Friday at St. James Catholic Church, 1826 Edenside Avenue, with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the St. James Catholic Church Building and Maintenance Fund (https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/stjlou).