Marie Yolande Raphael

Marie Yolande Raphael

July 12, 1937 – December 23, 2021

Born on July 12, 1937, Marie Yolande Raphael, was the first daughter of Odavid Raphael, a notable speculateur & Catherine Yvonne Cherduville, a seamstress in the town of Marmelade, Haiti.  She was followed by multiple siblings, but managed to be a true role model for all of them.  She spent her formative years mostly in Gonaives under the auspices of her aunt Mariette, and later on in the capital with her uncle, Me Francoeur Cherduville. After completing her Brevet d’Etudes, she formally embarked on her professional life as a primary school teacher.    While teaching, she then met this charming and prominent lawyer , Me Gregoire Jean-Baptiste who became the love of her life.  From their union, came 4 boys (3 in Haiti), and after emigrating to the United States one more (while trying for the girl’s luck) !

Yole had  was an educator, an advisor, a friend, a trusted companion, but above all a warm and devoted mother to her children, and everyone in her sphere including  nieces, nephews as well as their immediate friends, and acquaintances.  She had a special way of welcoming and valuing everyone  to her home.  She was stern in principles particularly when it comes to education. There was no playing allowed before all school work was completed.  And excellence was always encouraged.  

Besides great friendship, she enjoyed music, dancing, and was often called the lifeblood of a party. She learned early that politics in Haiti could divide families. She witnessed it within her immediate environment as she had openly espoused and started campaining for former candidate Louis Dejoie for his «  Agrarian Ideas », she was formally rebuked by her own father and friends for being « naive » about deceptive leaderships. Unfortunately we have not made great strides even today when it comes to this arena.

She later on grew to be an old soul as she experienced  greater life understanding and wisdom. She became less detached to material things which she saw as vanities, and grew less tolerant of exuberance, and waste.  With such attitude and some possible regrets, she started getting failing health, and grew more distant.  She then suffered from a combination of advanced dementia, hypertension, and diabetes. And a bit more recently, she was practically unable to attend to herself.  While she took her condition with some courage, she was more or less living in a bubble with an endearing smile. And on December 23, 2021, at 11:55 am,  her heart gave way, and she exited.

She is survived by the following siblings - Marie Anne, Simona, Roseline, Erlanne, Pierre, Leclerc, Hughes, Abner,Arnold, Salem and Audain and children; her children – F Jean-Michel, Jean-Daniel, Gabriel Frantz, Charles Seymour; her daughters in-laws- Sassoune, Nancy, Berline, Dorothy,and Nameesha ; her nieces and nephews- Ketelle, Gesner, Errol, Guirlene, Anthony, Natasha, Serge, Gabrielle, Danushca, and their children, her Raphael cousins, Florence Jean-Jacques, and children : Alexandre, Suze, Edline Magalie and children----her grand children- Michelle, Shanie, Gaspar, Matthieu, Stephane, Eric, Christelle, Annaelle, Cameron, her great grand child –Avery Martin ; her countless godsons and goddaughters etc…

Her departure leaves a void with all her friends, alliances, immediate families notably : Jean-Baptiste, Raphael, Cherduville, Cotin, Pardo, Germana, Legros, Preval, Sylvain, Valcourt, Jean-Jacques, Kernizan, Pierre, Frederique, Maurice, Marcellus, Matthieu, and Quick.

May Her Soul Rest in Peace !

https://venue.streamspot.com/event/MzAwMjk1Nw== Password: Marie

Repass 2:00 pm Saturday 1/8/2022
L'Antillaise Restaurant
20 New Hyde Park Rd.
Franklin Square, NY 11010