Noelia Hope Whitlock, 15 years young of Riverview, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at her home while surrounded with family. Noelia can breathe easy with the angels, as her fight with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is complete. She was a true CF Warrior. Noelia completed countless hours of treatments, medicines, hospitalizations, and surgeries to keep her lungs healthy. However, as she grew older, her lungs deteriorated and she was put on the waiting list for new lungs. On December 7, 2017 Noelia received the gift of life: a double lung transplant. Her new lungs gave her one year and four months of extra time to be a kid and live her life to the fullest. Noelia battled just as hard to keep her new lungs healthy, but during the last few months of her life, Noelia's body went into chronic rejection.

Noelia loved all things unicorns. Her favorite colors were pink and purple. She loved dolphins, in fact, the day she swam with the dolphins at Discovery Cove was "the best day ever!" and only days before she passed away. One of Noelia's proudest accomplishments was getting her Learner's Permit. She loved learning to drive and was great at it! Noelia also really loved school. When she was younger, she attended Sessums Elementary School and Hospital Homebound during long hospital stays. After elementary school, she was homeschooled through Florida Virtual School. This allowed her to continue her education without getting sick from her classmates, while also being able to keep up with school work while she was in the hospital. During the summer, Noelia enjoyed camping in the mountains and going on cruises or to the beach. She truly loved spending quality time with her family.

Noelia was one of the strongest kids you could ever meet. She braved many medical procedures and new diagnoses, but it never stopped her from living her best life. She never gave up, even when life got hard. Noelia was put here on Earth to teach us all about perseverance and to remember that, no matter what, you can do anything you set your mind to do as long as you never lose hope.

Noelia is survived by her parents Harold and Sheri Whitlock of Riverview, FL; her siblings Ceara Favre of Valrico, FL, Dylan Whitlock of Riverview, FL, Faith Whitlock of Riverview, FL, Aaron Whitlock of Riverview, FL, Jedyn Whitlock of Riverview, FL, and John Whitlock of Riverview, FL; as well as her Brother-In-Law Matthew Favre of Valrico, FL; her nephew Dominic Favre of Valrico, FL; her niece Elliot Favre of Valrico, FL; and her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Marty Davis of Fulton, NY, Mr. Harland Pollard of Sparta, TN, and Mrs. Judy Whitlock of Plant City, FL; along with her Great-Grandmother Mrs. Johnnie McElfresh of Walling, TN.

A Family Gathering and Celebration of Life Memorial will take place on Friday, April 26, 2019 at Serenity Meadows in Riverview beginning at 3:00 p.m. In honor of Noelia and her life-long battle, she has requested her guests to wear purple for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness