Jean Chenet Thenor

1 Corinthians 16:13  – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.”

Jean Chenet Thenor was born on December 10, 1939, to his parents Maria and Milcius Thenor. Chenet as we all called him, was one of five children, with two brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his brother, Reverend Andre Thenor, while his other siblings, Janet, Simone, and Roland, have passed on. Chenet grew up in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, a place made famous by the rapper Wyclef Jean, located just outside of Port-au-Prince.

Chenet s early life was simple but filled with the values that would define his character. Raised in the Catholic Church before converting to Christianity, he loved playing soccer, though he was more of an introvert. His parents instilled in him a strong work ethic from a young age. The family were farmers, growing plantain and sugarcane on their land.

Chenet met his wife Gislaine Cenat, while she was coming from church, and they married on July 1, 1967. The following year, they were blessed with their first child, and eventually, they had six children: five boys and one girl. Their names are Rex, Gasner, Edzer, Wedline, Wilnick, and Mills.

As his children and grandchildren can attest, Chenet was a man of iron will and principles who sought to instill strong values of honesty and discipline in his children. He believed in earning what you worked for and was known for waking up at 3 a.m. to tend the land and livestock. His hard work ensured that his wife and children never went hungry. However, he wanted more for them, and this desire led him to leave Haiti and his farming skills behind in search of a better life in America.

In 1983, Chenet got his passport and boarded a flight to Mexico. After staying there for a few days, he made his way to Miami, where his sister Janet picked him up. He later moved to New Jersey, staying with his brother at Solange's house. The family is forever grateful to Solange and the Tunis family for their generosity in helping him get on his feet. Through hard work and perseverance, Chenet saved enough money to relocate his entire family to the United States.

He was a God-loving and God-fearing man. Education was at the top of his list for his children, and he would not accept anything less. He was a devoted husband who kept the promises he made to his wife, Gislaine Thenor, on that hot day in July of 1967. Chenet was a man of faith, a hard worker who provided for his family, a wonderful husband, and an awesome father to his children and grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, love, and respect, values that will be passed down to future generations.

On Argust 1, 2024, Chenet was called home to be with the lord. He is survived by his 6 children and 13 grandchildren. The grandchildren are:

Mikerlson

Rexney

Jordan

Bella

Whitney

Dominic

Ava

Chelsey

Jonathan

Angeline

Logan

Liam

Layla

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jean Chenet Thenor, please visit our floral store.