Remembering Miss Norma Hill, Woman of Honduran Garifuna Heritage

This High School Teacher was 55 Years Old

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Copyright 2024 by Teofilo Colon Jr for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved.

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Fort Lauderdale, Florida – I was stunned to learn through a post on Facebook that Woman of Honduran Garifuna Heritage, Ms. Norma Lidia Hill, passed away suddenly at the age of 55.

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Details are sketchy and a bit of a mystery. Ms. Hill was in Honduras for a Funeral of a Relative.

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Upon Norma’s return to the United States, apparently, she got sick.

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I don’t know if Ms. Hill got sick in Honduras, on the flight back to the United States or got sick in the United States.

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All I was told is that in Miami, Florida, she was taken to the Hospital and never left. She died suddenly.

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While I don’t think I ever met Norma in person, she would send me messages responding to various posts of mine on Facebook.

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Or Norma Hill would comment underneath some posts of mine.

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Engagement is increasingly rare on Facebook nowadays for me, so I am appreciative of any comment or message that is not spam and is legitimate.

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Norma Hill’s passing was sudden and a shock. I wish I knew more about her. The following is what I have been able to learn about Norma since she passed away.

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Norma Lidia Hill was born on August 4th 1968 in Masca, Honduras to Mr. Rosario Hill and Miss. Claudia Santos.

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I was told, but have not confirmed that she migrated to the United States as a child. Nicknamed Chi-Chi, Over her life, Norma Hill was a resident of:

• Spring Valley, New York
• Bronx, New York
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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Norma Hill attended Ramapo Senior High School in Spring Valley, New York, and graduated in 1987.

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Norma Hill has spent over twenty years as a Special Education Teacher in Florida.

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When Norma passed, she worked at Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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I do not know if Norma spent the past entire twenty years teaching at Stranahan High School.

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Norma Hill is survived by one Brother and one Son. Her parents are Deceased.

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As you can imagine, Family and Friends Reaction to Norma Hill’s passing was that of widespread grief and surprise.

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Honduran Garifuna Woman Christina Nuñez wrote on Facebook:

My Friend! This is how I will remember you, by your beautiful smile.

I will only tell you to rest in the breast of our heavenly father.

You are in a better place, no more pain or suffering, but you left us with immense pain my friend.

Just accept our father’s will! I’m going to miss you.

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A Mrs. Nicole Rowe-Grosvenor wrote on Facebook:

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💔🕊️ Norma was a beautiful soul with a heart of gold. She could tell some good jokes/stories too.

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Her smile was so pure. She loved herself some special needs children. It was her passion and she dedicated over 20 years educating them.

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God has gained another Angel and my dear friend, you will be missed…for sure.

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This is another death that is hard to accept and understand, but as the song says, “Farther Along” we’ll understand it all by and by.

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Ms. Hill as those in Education called you. This week, you fought till the end but the health circumstances were just overwhelming and God decided to call you home.

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Don’t worry. I/We got Joshua. You had big plans for him and we will do our best to see them through.

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You loved this picture (below), even though the kid in the front is almost 20.

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Our friendship was established in 2007 at Coconut Creek High and what a friendship it has been…up to the end. 😥💔🕊️ Rest in Paradise/Peace Friend, Norma Hill.

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I had gone to the Viewing but got there too late. Hundreds of people were outside the Funeral Home, but her Chapel was closed.

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I proceeded to go to the Wake at Casa Yurumein in the Bronx where family and friends gathered in Memory of Norma Hill.

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Bandi Seremein (“Many Thanks” in the Garifuna Language) to Family and Friends of Miss Norma Hill who spoke to me about Ms. Hill.

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They, along with looking at her Facebook profile gave me the information I needed to write about Norma Hill.

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Beiba Ameragua, Norma Hill.