Gisette Guerrier

It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you today to honor the memory of my dear auntie Gisette Guerrier, better known as Gigie to most. While my heart is heavy, it is also a privilege that I have been chosen to speak on such an occasion. As you are all aware, her daughter Patricia and her son Jean-Jean could have delivered the eulogy better than I. However, due to the circumstances of today, they graciously gave me the opportunity to speak to you on their behalf about our beloved Gisette Guerrier. I can still hear Patricia saying to me: “Pierrot si Mwen pat renmen w Mwen t ap rayi w, paske lè m ap tande manman ap pale de ou, wa ta di ou se yon extra terrestre, poutan se pa vre.” This is a testament of her affection and love for me. Therefore, Pat and Jean-Jean, due to your unconditional love for your dear mother, you respected her wishes until the very end. Jean Jean ,Mwen konnen ou di yon zanmi “Ou pa rele Pierrot, jan manman m te renmen Pierrot”. You can understand family and friends, the heavy responsibility that I have standing before you today as we say a final farewell to a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a cousin, and dear friend. Each one of us here is motivated by the need to express a last gesture of affection, sympathy, gratitude, and tribute to our beloved Gigie. I have the pleasure of reflecting on and sharing with you, “Who was Gisette”? Gisette Guerrier is the second of three children from the union of Leonie Casimir and Jehovah Guerrier. Adored dearly by her father, he made sure his daughter carried his last name and named her Gisette Immacula Guerrier. She was born in St. Michel de l’Attalaye on Monday, December 8th, 1941, a memorable day in the history of humanity. Her mother was a well-known traveling businesswoman who decided to take her and her older brother Fred to Hinche to expand her business. They stayed there for two years, and Gigie attended primary school in the region. It wasn't long before they returned to St. Michel, where Gigie continued her studies at the school of the sisters, ultimately earning a Primary Studies certificate. As her mother's business flourished, Gigie and her siblings lived in two homes: their grandmother's and that of their mother's sister, Francoise. This situation brought her closer to her cousins, and they lived like brothers and sisters under the same roof. When it was time for high school, her parents sent her to Gonaives to continue her studies. From there, she graduated with a degree that qualified her to teach. She had the opportunity to teach at one of the most prestigious schools in the city: Chez Dufort. A few years later, she traveled to the capital, Port-au-Prince. Continuing on that same path, she was able to teach in some of the most highly rated schools. Amongst some of the schools were the sisters of Saint Francois d’Assise and Collimon Boisson. In the late 1960s, in search of greater opportunities, she migrated to the United States in the city of Brooklyn, New York. This was not an easy decision, leaving behind her family and the life-long memories she fostered, especially the unforgettable holidays of her native land. She had always considered her island to be an oasis of freshness and relaxation, and now she would face the new realities of America. Just as Choubou, singer of Tabou Combo immortalized in his song “Haiti.” La neige met ap tonbe fòk n ale travay, nou bouke, Nou bouke manje manje chinwa,nou bouke tavay nan faktory,”. At times, this was a very harsh experience; however, she embarked on a new chapter that would change her experience of the 'Big Apple.' She reconnected with her youthful love, who made her the mother of a beautiful daughter, Patricia, her eldest. In the following years, she had the opportunity to appreciate and acknowledge that this place, this city, was blessed, for it was in this city that she gave birth to a daughter whom she loved dearly. Two years later, still in New York, she gave birth to her beloved son, Jean Carlyle Lauriston, also known as Jean-Jean. These two children accompanied their mother through the most difficult stages of her life, with a lot of love, dedication, and a strong sense of responsibility. In the mid-to-late 1970s, she met and married her late husband, George Syllien, and they created a beautiful family together. After dedicating 28 years of her life to Brooklyn, New York, Gigie and her husband grew tired of the harsh winters and decided to relocate to Miami, Florida. Miami gave her a sense of the oasis of Haiti that she had left behind. With this new journey at hand, she worked in the hospitality business for many years and gracefully raised her two children. Her love for God, her compassion, and her strength were like no other. After living in Miami for a quarter of a century; in 2011, the provisions of Psalm 90 verse 10 came into effect for her, which says:” Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away”. Nothing could be further from the truth in the case of our beloved aunt Gigie. Few people know that she had a middle name and it was “Immacula.” Remember, she was born on December 8th, the day consecrated by Catholic Christians to Immaculate, which means untouched from every stain of original sin. So, without knowing it, her father made her a warrior and robust. I referenced robust because she lived 81 years and 8 months respecting the predictions of Psalm 90. A warrior from birth, she arrived in the world on Monday, December 8th, 1941, the same day that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt entered World War II by declaring war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hence a historical and unforgettable date. As we all know; for a warrior, life is a series of fights. Aunt Gigie lived her life through several fights as well. 1- The fight of having been forced to live in a dispersed way with her mother, the latter, concerned about the education of her children, worked hard to ensure the education of her children with dignity. 2- The fight that all immigrants in a foreign country go through. For her it was having to deprive herself of the privilege of enjoying the innocence of her children. A poet writes: “Look into the eyes of a child, look carefully, and you will see all the love and innocence he has in him.” She had to wait until their teenage (adolescence) to be reunited under the same roof with them. 3- The fight against the fatality of life. Because, from the age of 70, she was forced to accept living with a pacemaker to regulate her heart. 4- The fight of seeing oneself lose their different physical and intellectual capacities within 15 months in a kind of stoicism like no other. The latter was the greatest fight. She fought with courage, faith, perseverance, and dignity. While it is written: a human being can live about 8 days without drinking anything. (The record is 18 days according to the Guinness Book of Records) You, Aunt Gigie, the warrior that you are, you nearly broke the record by surviving 16 to 17 days without a drink. So many battles you won. Paraphrasing Timothy 4: verses 7-8, I will tell you:” You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith.” As a faithful Catholic who was passionate about the Virgin Mary, the doors of heaven are surely open to you now. The Lord will not reproach you for having loved carnival, for having enjoyed partying, for having loved your neighbor, for never having been spiteful, for having been tolerant in many situations, and for always having been there for many of us. On the contrary; He will tell you, as it says in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Before concluding, on behalf of Patricia, Jean, and the entire family, I would like to take the time to thank all those who accompanied Aunt Gigie in these last long and difficult moments of her life. Patricia and Jean-Jean insisted on giving SPECIAL thanks to Lisette Casimir, her cousin, our “Lilie” for her invaluable support and dedication at their side. Lilie was there with Gigie until she took her last breath. To Polo my sister, for her unparalleled support. To Dina my cousin, who was there from the beginning of her illness…… to Marie-Louise and Evelyne for all they did for her during the difficult times. Finally, our thanks to all those who made the trip to allow us to say a vibrant farewell to our Gigie. Gigie, you took off before us. I am sure you will be able to leave us a place of choice in the house of the Father. Rest easy Auntie.

Gisette Guerrier

December 8, 1941 - August 8, 2023

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