Lita Barretto Clark

Lita Barretto Clark, 92, of Fairfax Station, Virginia, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Born in Manila, Philippines, on September 19, 1933, she was baptized Amalia Rosario Maria de Cervellone Barretto but was always known as Lita by family and friends. To her grandchildren she was lovingly called “Bita.”

After attending Holy Ghost College and the University of Santo Tomás, Lita worked as a receptionist for Mobil Oil in Manila. In 1957 she met Don Morse Clark when he and other American geophysicists visited the office. Their first dinner led to a courtship that culminated in marriage on April 17, 1958, in Manila. The couple lived in Iquique, Chile, and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands before settling in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1963. They shared 38 years of marriage until Don’s passing in 1997.

A devoted member of Saint Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria for more than 50 years, Lita volunteered in numerous ministries. In 2018 she moved to Fairfax Station to live with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons, and became part of St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church. Her faith and family were the center of her life. She was deeply devoted to her children, David and Julia, and cherished her six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A gifted cook, she delighted in preparing traditional Filipina dishes, especially her homemade lumpia and ensaymadas.

Lita was preceded in death by her parents, Tomas and Amalia Barretto, and four siblings: brothers Tomas “Chato,” Rafael “Piling,” Manuel “Chiquitin,” and sister Tessie. She is survived by her sisters May Avecilla and Tina Vaca; her son David Clark (Debra); her daughter Julia MacInnis (Jack); grandchildren Taylor Clark, Kirsty Hairfield (Robby), Amanda Kirsch (Robin), Jackson MacInnis, Emma Clark, and Harry MacInnis; and great-granddaughter Sutton Hairfield.

Her life embodied the Filipino values of faith, generosity, and unwavering devotion to family, and her love remains with all those she leaves behind.