Russilia Jean-Baptiste

It is with heavy heart we gather here to say a final goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, Russilia Jean Baptiste. 

Russilia Jean Baptiste was born in L’Azile, Haiti on October 15, 1938, to Ermilise Liberte and JeantiHome Jean Baptiste.  She has two siblings, sister, Deliane Jean Baptiste who predeceased her, and brother, Cherubin Jean Baptiste. When Russilia was about 17 years old she moved to Les Anglais, another province in Haiti. When she was nineteen years old, she had her first son, Brunel Louis-Jean.  Russilia went on to have a total of eleven children and many predeceased her.  Russilia has three surviving children, Brunel Louis-Jean, Roselie Saintil and Remercia Charles.

Russilia had a hard life growing up, but she was a hard-working woman.  She worked as a food seller on the public market to support herself and her children.  She also farmed the land and sold some of the food she grew.  Russilia loved her family and had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Many of her grandchildren know her as a compassionate person who always thrives to ensure their well-being.  She never forgets her family; growing up wherever her grandchildren were, she will always visit them and make sure they were doing well.  She served as mother for some of us who did not have a mother present growing up and for that we are forever grateful.  

Russilia moved to the United States in 2000 when she was 61 years old.  When she moved to the U.S, she continued to work hard.  She held various jobs, as caretaker, babysitter and many more.  She demonstrates her selflessness by financially supporting some of her family in Haiti. 

Russilia loves life and enjoys going out and traveling.  She took pleasure in gardening and growing things.  You could always find her with her daughter-in-law, Marie Lourdes Louis-Jean outside planting something in the garden.  She enjoys listening to her Haitian radio.  She enjoys watching “Martin” the TV series.  She enjoys spoiling her great-grandchildren.  The great children knew that ‘Gran’, as we call her will always have a treat to give them.  Russilia was a good cook and she shows some of her granddaughters how to properly make epice, a Haitian seasoning and other Haitian food recipes. 

Above all else, Russilia was a woman of faith.  She loved the Lord and served Him well.  She was involved in her church choir and participated in various committees in the church.   Although we are sad, our greatest hope is on the day she died, July 12, 2024, she went to be with the Lord and was welcomed into heaven with the angels and heard the saying “well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23).”

We love you Russilia and we are going to miss you, but you will always be in our heart and will never be forgotten.

Russilia is survived by her children, Brunel (Maries Lourdes) Louis-Jean, Roselie (Morelis Mars) Saintil, and Remercia (Claudy) Charles; grandchildren, Ketia (Edgir) Jean, Saradgine (Mario) Pierre, Dana (Uzodinma) Eke-Okoro, Brunel (Judline Zephirin)  Louis-Jean Jr., Emmanuel (Milenda) Louis-Jean, Victor ( Ajahna Hoo) Louis-Jean, Elaudy Charles, Hans Stern Charles, Landie Christelle Charles, Sendy (Charles Louis Jr) Saintil, Junie (Fredner Esophe) Mars, Dimy (Kerlange Raphael) Mars, Emionne (Dimy Peans) Mars, and Mathieu Mars; great-grandchildren, Ronaldo Brunel Louis-Jean, Shawn Patrick Louis-Jean, Calvin Jonathan Louis-Jean, Jaden Louis-Jean, Kaylie Judline Louis-Jean, Joshua Jean, Hadassah Jean, Stella Jean, Margine Pierre, Samar Pierre, Chizara A. Eke-Okoro, Chidi M. Eke-Okoro, Chiamaka E. Eke-Okoro, Samuel Wood Sebastien Esophe, Kentushy Esophe, Horlorsky Mars, Vladimy Peans, Eli Louis-Jean,  Emma Louis-Jean, and Journey Louis-Jean; brother, Cherubin Jean Baptiste; niece, Gladys (Louis) Appolon; cousins, Yanick Jean Baptiste, Samson Jean Baptiste, Anne Marie Jean Baptiste, and Jeanette Jean Baptiste

If You Would Like To Send A Flower Arrangement To The Service Being Held On Friday, July 19, 2024, Please Be Aware That The Deadline For Ordering Through Our Online Portal Is Wednesday, July 17th, 2024, AT 2:00 PM; ANY ORDERS PLACED AFTER 07/17/2024, 2:00PM WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. 

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