DOVER - Norma "Normita" Phillips, née Norma de la Rocha Pineda, daughter of Agustín de la Rocha Anzoátegui and Maria Pineda Montezuma, entered her eternal home on Dec. 28, 2016, after a long and brave fight with dementia. Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, she was raised in Managua, Nicaragua, where she met her beloved husband, William O. Phillips, while he was serving a tour of duty there from 1941 to 1943. One of Normita's happiest accomplishments was becoming a naturalized citizen. She was a vocal defender of America and politically active in the Kent County Republican Women's Club. She called in regularly on a local radio station's Sound Off program and wrote frequent editorials to the Delaware State News. She was an active member of the Dover Century Club and enjoyed volunteering at the Dover Air Force Base Thrift Shop. Whenever she was asked to provide her employment status she would proudly reply "Household Executive." She was a consummate one with innate interior decorating ability. She enjoyed entertaining and delighting her guests with her specialties of "paella" and "la cosa verde." A frequent visitor to Tuesday night auctions at Spence's Bazaar, she had an uncanny ability to spot a treasure through layers of dirt, grime and neglect and to refurbish it to its former glory. Normita is survived by her daughter, Maria (aka Mary) Elizabeth Phillips, of Dover; her son, William O. Phillips, III, of Clarksville, Md.; her daughter-in-law, Alicia Grodsky; and her granddaughters, Amaya and Ariana Phillips. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 631 S. State Street, Dover. Friends may call one hour prior. Interment will be in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Letters of condolences may be sent and guest book signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.