Our beloved sister, wife, mother, and grandmother Gina Soldano Smith went to be with the Lord on January 10th, 2025.  She fought a hard battle with cancer.  She's predeceased by her parents Joseph and Elsa Soldano.  Gina leaves behind her husband Gerald, her daughters Teresa (Xavi) Perez, Jackie (Darry) Castro, her son Darren, and brother-in-law Jack (Ann) Smith.  Also, her five sisters - Joelsa (Larry) Schober, Andrea Shafer, Yvonne Soldano, Marisa (David) Gootee, and Monica (Donald) Fletchall.  Gina graduated from Key West High School in 1973 and was a member of the KWHS band playing the clarinet all four years.  After graduation, she attended Florida State University earning her degree in Elementary Education.  She began her teaching career in Fort Lauderdale at North Fork Elementary teaching kindergarten.  She missed her hometown and returned to Key West and taught at Reynolds School, Glynn Archer Elementary, Horace O'Bryant Elementary and Key West High School.  Gina loved her job and all of her students and treated them as her own.  A career she held for 47 years.  Gina leaves behind her beloved grandchildren Isabella, Xavier and Veda, Nieces and nephews - Jodi Presley, Audra Gootee, Grace Thrift, Olivia Torres, David Gootee, Joseph Schober, Chelsea Pita and Cameron Fletchall.  A mass ceremony will be held at The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea on Saturday, January 18th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.