Norma Calvo Giuffrida's Obituary
GIUFFRIDA
Norma Calvo, 58, passed away peacefully at home on January 27, 2011, after a 14-year courageous and dignified battle against A.C.C., a very rare form of cancer. Fran, her husband and soul mate for 40 years, family members, and friends were at her bedside. Norma was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, came to Miami in 1967, and graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1970. She was predeceased by her parents, Jesus Calvo of La Coruna, Spain and Angela Calvo of Cienfuegos, Cuba, and by her beloved canine children, Napi and Josie. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sister Mary Quintero, uncle Basilio Martinez (Olympia), nephew Frank Quintero (Ellie), nieces Vivian Venaro and Angie Quintero, cousin Dr. Raquel Pachon (Ivan) and numerous other relatives in Spain and Cuba. Her career began at Riverside Bank, where she met Fran, the love of her life. In 1976, she started a 28-year career at Delta Air Lines, advancing to the position of a supervisor in reservations sales. She established the Spanish Desk in Miami and the Cruise Desk in Atlanta. Delta called on her to open a reservation center in Santiago, Chile, where she returned occasionally to monitor the operations. In 1996, Norma was selected by her co-workers to represent Delta as the Torch Bearer in the relay for the centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. After leaving Delta in 2004, she joined KeyBank Real Estate Capital when they opened offices on Brickell Avenue. She became office manager, working for the firm locally and nationally. Because of her warm, out-going nature, she especially enjoyed being part of the camaraderie of everyone in that office. She was a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, loving, and highly spirited woman with a zest for life. She marveled at the beauty of nature – clear blue skies, rain, flowers, and the tree canopies in Coral Gables, where she lived for 36 years. Norma was artistically talented, capturing South Florida landscape scenes in beautiful watercolor paintings. She is fondly remembered for creating beautiful ceramics and jewelry as gifts to friends and co-workers. She was in her glory sewing, particularly costumes for Halloween and special office functions, for herself and office staff. She loved to entertain, opening her home for more than 30 years to serve Thanksgiving dinner to a crowd of family members and friends. They were members of the Coral Gables Country Club and Century Club. Norma and Fran’s relationship was made in heaven. They were inseparable, traveling throughout the US, and frequently to Spain and other parts of Europe, South America, and Asia. They took more than 30 Caribbean cruises, often visiting St. Thomas, VI, where they had spent their honeymoon. Their lives centered on each other. God wanted his precious angel back in his paradise. He picked the most beautiful flower for his Garden of Eden. In lieu of flowers, Norma had requested donations be made in her honor to The Cat Network, P.O. Box 347228, Miami, FL 33234-7228, or Paws 4 You Rescue, P.O. Box 561163, Miami, FL 33256. A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, February 19th at 2:30 pm at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1400 Miller Road, Coral Gables, Florida. VAN ORSDEL CORAL GABLES.
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