Yvose Rene

With profound sorrow and much love, we mourn the passing of beloved mother and grandmother Yvose Rene on Wednesday, September 21, at her home surrounded by her family. Yvose Rene is survived by her daughter Evelyne, son-in-law, Wisdom Kploanyi, her son, Jean-Claude and her daughter-in-law Elsie, her five grandchildren, Gessica, Michael, Samuel, Christopher, and Roodchy Rene, her sister, Therese; also surviving are a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Yvose was born on July 27, 1936, in Jeremie, a communal town in Haiti, where her family grew food crops on their farm. She was the daughter of Origen Despeines, a farmer, and Marie Louise Rene, an enterprising homemaker. She was fortunate to grow up in a caring family consisting of 8 sisters and six brothers whom she loved dearly.

Born and raised in the church, Yvose was a fervent servant of the Lord and devoted her time and talent to offering her services to her community, whether inside of the church or outside within her daily living.  At her home church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, she was a member of the choir, which allowed her to use another one of her passions-singing-in service to God. 

Yvose did not boast that she was a Catholic; she embodied it through her actions. In her household, everyone was always welcomed. Everyone is family. If you’re hungry, you need not worry; you will be fed. If you need a place to rest your head, there’s always a room for you, for however long you need it. This trait was instilled in her through her loving family and upbringing in the church.

Her formative years were primarily spent assisting her family with daily farm life and commerce. With the world around her as her classroom, she developed an old-world wisdom many would be blessed by in her later years.

Yvose had many interests, but her first love and passion in life was traditional Haitian folklore dance. She also had a passion for baking, cooking, and sewing was cultivated throughout her childhood experiences. She culminated her formal education by attending vocational school in Haiti, where she showed strong proficiency in sewing and culinary arts.

She was a woman of many talents from an early age with a natural affinity for knowledge and possessed outstanding problem-solving skills. This benefited her later in life as she built an impressive career as an independent business owner. She sold various goods grown from her family’s farm to local and foreign businesses, such as coffee beans, chocolate, and sugar cane.

Outside of the workplace, Yvose was widely sought out for her culinary skills and sewing abilities. As an independent seamstress, she made special occasion dresses for weddings, communions, baptisms, and school uniforms for her local community. She also was frequently hired as a caterer. She crafted elaborate cakes for various events throughout the community. She especially loved making such cakes for family. Yvose loved to entertain in her home. Seeing her loved ones enjoy the food she prepared would give her great joy. 

She believed in the generosity of spirit, heart, and hand and never passed up an opportunity to volunteer her time and skills in serving others. To give back to her community, she taught cooking and baking classes to numerous young ladies in Haiti for several years.

While in Jeremie, she met the love of her life, Benoit Pierre-Louis. This union produced two children: Evelyne and Jean-Claude. Yvose was a devoted wife and mother and took great pride in her children's important milestones and achievements over the years. She lived her life using two fundamental principles: her commitment and love for Christ and her devotion and love for her family.

After 40 years of running a successful business in the commerce industry, Yvose retired to move to the United States in 1998 to be reunited with her daughter and grandchildren. In her eyes, family was one of the most important components of life, so she delighted in being a grandmother. She spent most of her days ensuring they were properly dressed for school and church and feeding them until they were so full, they couldn't eat. She loved her grandchildren tremendously and cared for them with her last breath. Over the years, she instilled in her grandchildren the importance of education, attending church, and always keeping God first. In her free time, she enjoyed singing, sewing, reading her bible, listening to gospel music, and staying active through long walks on the boardwalk.

She had a soft heart and loved making people laugh - her playful humor was sure to bring a smile to your face. She was known for her infectious spirit, laugh, and a smile that would light up a room, leaving a mark everywhere she went. She was deeply committed to her faith and always sought ways to serve in her church community. 

Yvose will be remembered most for her compassionate nature, unwavering generosity, devotion to God, and deep love for her family. She will be cherished in our hearts forever. We love you so much, Yvose.

If you would like to send a flower arrangement to the Viewing or Service being held on Saturday, October 1st, 2022, please be aware that the deadline for ordering through our online portal is THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th, 2022, AT 2:00 PM; ANY ORDERS PLACED AFTER 10/01/2022, 2:00PM WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.

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