Norma "Lita" Barroso Faraldo was called home at the age of 99. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 7, 2023. Norma was born in Key West on June 27, 1924, to Alfredo and Rosaura Barroso; the youngest of seven. She grew up on Bahama St. and went to school at the Convent of Mary Immaculate. She met and later married George Faraldo on June 4th, 1941 on the eve of his deployment to the Pacific during World War II. They raised 2 children, Monica and George Jr.

Norma had a full and exciting life. She rode with her mother and her older sister Flora on the last train to Key West before the Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the railroad. Coming from a musical family, Norma learned to sing and play the piano, which she would enjoy throughout her life. Norma loved the water, giving swimming lessons and teaching synchronized swimming along with water ballet. She served as the Girl Scout leader of her daughter and niece's troop. Norma traveled both with her husband and then, after his passing, she continued to travel with family and friends, visiting countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa.

She and her husband, George, started and operated the first flying school in Key West, Faraldo Flying Service. She received her pilot's license in 1947, taking lessons from her husband and a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). She was the first woman and the first Cuban American woman in Key West to get her pilot's license. Norma was an airport wife for most of her life, helping run the flying school and assisting her husband in training new pilots, all while her husband managed Key West International Airport from 1946-1976. When hurricanes approached Key West, she and George would taxi the planes into the hangars before working on their own home. Shortly after George "retired" from the Airport, they started Faraldo Enterprises in 1981, repairing both boat and plane engines until his passing in 1988.

Norma never slowed down. She served as an officer and member of the San Carlos board of directors from 1996 until her passing. She was awarded the Medalla Excelencia Nacional Cubana, the highest distinction bestowed by the San Carlos in 2023. She spent one hour a week at the Adoration Chapel and was a member for 56 years and past president of the Catholic Daughters of America Court Star of the Sea #634. One of Norma's greatest joys was serving as the choir director for St. Mary Star of the Sea. When John Paul II visited Miami in September of 1987, Norma was honored to sing in the choir during mass at Tamiami Park. She stayed active on the Ad-Hoc committee on noise, even appearing by Zoom well into her 90s, attending her weekly lunch with the Conch Ladies, and even took up painting at age 98.

Norma was predeceased by her parents, Alfredo Barroso and Rosaura Perez Barroso, her sisters Grace B. Gonzales, Anna B. Stockwell, Estella B. Swift, Flora B. Rueda, her brothers Lucio Hector Barroso, and Alfredo Barroso, and her husband George Jacob Faraldo. She is survived by her son George Alfred Faraldo (Olga), daughter Monica Faraldo Hill (Charles), granddaughter Marisa Rose Faraldo Tedesco (John), and great-grandson Jacobo Santiago Faraldo Tedesco.

There will be a visitation held on Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at Dean Lopez Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 13, 2023, at the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, followed by the Rite of Committal at Southern Keys Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome to Lita's House after the burial to celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea, 700 Truman Ave, Key West, FL 33040.