Dr. Marie Yvonne Balay

. Yvonne Balay, née Marie Yvonne Alexandre, daughter of Edmond Alexandre and Lamercie St-Jean, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on January 9th, 1931. 

Early in her life, Yvonne knew that education was the great equalizer, the door to a better future. As a result, she devoted herself to her studies at the expense of all else. After high school, Yvonne enrolled at l'École Normale Supérieure D'Haiti to become a teacher. Thereafter, she attended the School of Anesthesiologist, a one-time American Anesthesiologist Assistants Program of the University of Haiti.

Yvonne Alexandre married André Balay in 1962 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. From this union, three children were born. At the age of 32, she entered the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Haiti and had her first child, Philippe, in PCB. During these years of study, she showed extraordinary courage by juggling the roles of wife, mother, and student. Two weeks before her final exam at the university, she gave birth to her second child, Florence, by cesarean section. Pregnant with her third child Martine, she graduated from medical school. Her courage, determination, and hard work paid off; at the age of 37, she achieved her life-long goal of becoming a medical doctor specializing in Anesthesia. For 30 years, as Dr in Anesthesiology, she was the lifeline of countless patients, keeping them alive and breathing while they underwent surgical procedures.

Alongside her professional and marital life, she lived an exemplary mother's life, taking care of her children's well-being and education. Having a visceral love for her family, sisters, nephews and nieces, and cousins, she was a reliable ally everyone wished they had. Her philanthropic nature was known to many, and many benefited from her generosity. Her medical knowledge helped more than one in her neighborhood of Delmas. She helped deliver many babies at home, dressed wounds or burns, and prescribed medications to strangers, friends, and family members free of charge. Her medical instinct was uncanny and on point, and her diagnosis almost flawless saved many lives.

On the evening of her life, her passion turned to her faith. She became a member of the Legion of Mary, whose ranks she joined alongside her sisters Françoise and Hélène; the rosary was an extension of her arm until the end. During her last days on this earth, when she was at a loss for words, she fell back to the "Hail Mary" that she recited continuously.

Dr. Marie Yvonne Balay is survived by her beloved children, family members, friends, and allies. We take this opportunity to offer our condolences to Philippe Balay and his wife Elizabeth Jessie Garnier, to her son in law Lévêque Valbrun and his wife Florence Balay, her son in law Guyry C. Mathieu and his wife Martine Andrée Balay. To her adopted daughter Madame Gerlande Midy Bouchard and family.

To her sisters Mme Françoise Alexandre and Mme Hélène Jérôme.

To her grandchildren: Mr. and Mrs. Frantz Ferolus born Elizabeth Katarina Balay, Marissa Christelle Mathieu, Jean-Paul Sébastien Balay Dodier, Karalyn Rebecca Mathieu, Soraya Praline Balay, Ann-Lyz Jaelle Mathieu, her great-grandson Ezra Andrew Balay Ferolus.

To her nephews and nieces: Mr. Francis Midy, Mrs. Judex Midy, Mrs. Carolle Barrais and her husband, Mr. Eddy Barrais, Mrs. Nerlande Lafond and family, Mr. Evans Jérôme and family, Doctor Scarline Jérôme Kon and family, Mrs. Sandra Jérôme Sojka and family, Mrs. Sabine Jérôme Paillant and family, Mr. Patrick Jérôme and family, Mr. Frantz Etienne and family, Mr. Ernst Alexandre and family, Mrs. Jo-Ann Alexandre and family, Mrs. Margareth Alexandre Marc and family, Mrs. Mildred Alexandre Forbes and family, Mrs. Andrée Alexandre Moise and family. Mr and Mrs Reginald Jacques, Mr and Mrs Christopher Lafond, Mrs Katie Deslouches and family, Mr Beckett Simon and family, Mr James Simon, Mrs Johanne Alfred and family.

To her cousins, Mrs. Annie Blain and family, Mrs. Betty Blain and family, Mr. Claude Blain and family. To Pierre Daniel, Dominique, Yves, Natacha Saint-Laurent, and their family.

To her many allies: Mr. and Mrs. Wiener Cadet, Mr. and Mrs. Antoine Fleurant, Mr. and Mrs. Jude-Antoine Fleurant, Mr. Ronald Cadet and family, Mrs. Joëlle Cadet, Mr. Wiener Cadet Junior and family, Mrs. Dora Fleurant, Mrs. Rachelle Fleurant Fauché and family, Mr. Lyonel Daumec and family, and to her childhood friend Dr. Gabrielle Georges.

To her friends: Mrs. Carmélie Raymond, Mrs. Marie Marthe Pierre, Mr. and Mrs. Alexandre Jeanty and family, her companion Jinie Dorvilier, and her friends and the Staff of Second Home.

To her classmates and friends of the "Felix Coicou" graduating class of 1969 of the Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de l'Université d'État d'Haïti (UEH).

To the families Balay, Alexandre, Valbrun, Mathieu, Garnier, Ferolus, Midy, Jean, Jérôme, Bouchard, Kon, Sojka, Paillant, Cadet, Fleurant, Blain, Saint-Laurent, Gara, Théodore, Charles, Jacques, Lafond, Berry, Villarson, Osias, Delpé, Elie, Bellerive, Deslouches, Simon, Alfred, Coureau, Tessier, Ambroise, Damus and to all friends and allies affected by this loss we present our sincere condolences.