Some people only walk this earth for a short time, but their departure reminds us that angels are watching over us. We gained our most precious angel on May 27, 2021, when Sonia Fonseca gained her wings after a long battle with cancer. She was 53 years old.
It cannot be said that Sonia lost her battle because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined to keep fighting. Her joy for life and unshakeable spirit kept her pushing through the pain. When others would have broken, Sonia continued to stay strong and positive. Through her, we have all learned what resilience and perseverance truly look like.
Sonia was born to parents Ulfredo H. Fonseca and Blanca Fonseca, on 09/11/1967 in Germany. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and later went on to receive her MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Sonia married her late husband Jose “Frank” Nordelo on April 29th, 1985 and together they had and raised their son Christopher Nordelo until Frank’s passing in 2001. Sonia later found love and happiness again when she met Richard “Rick” Barnes. They were married November 2nd, 2017, in Sanford, Florida.
Sonia devoted her to life to public service as the CRA Executive Director of Economic Development for the City of Sanford. Always wanting to help others excel in their passions and dreams, she worked diligently to help new business owners receive grants to grow business within the city.
Sonia had an affinity for sampling new and different types of red wine and was always ready to share wine recommendations. Sonia found joy in family game days and was always at peace on the beach. She loved traveling to various places around the world with Scotland being the most recent place to steal her heart.
Sonia is survived by her son Christopher A. Nordelo and her three grandsons, who made up the entirety of her world, Christopher A. Nordelo Jr. “CJ” (age 6), Elias F. Nordelo (9 months), and Isaiah L. Nordelo (9 months). The love she felt for her grandsons will be felt for a lifetime. Sonia is also survived by her husband Richard “Rick” Barns, her mother Blanca Fonseca, and her sister Mercedes Fonseca. She was preceded in death by her late husband Jose “Frank” Nordelo and her father, Ulfredo Fonseca.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude or Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.
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