JOSPEH ELICOT CHERY

It is with immense sadness and heavy hearts that we bow down before our Heavily Father, our Creator God, to thank Him for the life of our dear and wonderful father, Joseph Elicot Chéry, a fervent servant of of God, who passed away on February 18, 2026, at 3:30 a.m. Joseph Elicot Chéry was born on July 7, 1942, in the 5th District Saint-Georges, in the commune of Bainet, Haiti, to Clévers Chéry his father and Merancia Constant his mother. In 1964, following Hurricane Flora, which devastated southern Haiti, his father, Clévers Chéry, went to Montrouis, where he worked in the sisal industry (pitre) in Ravine-Sèche for nearly two years. At the time, sisals or pitres were transported from the island of La Gonâve and from all over the Artibonite and West departments to Ravine-Séche to be cleaned and then transported by train to Saint-Marc to be exported to the United States. Worried about the prolonged absence of her husband, Clévers, Merancia sent her son Joseph to search for him after her older daughter, Eva, who had been sent to Montrouis two months earlier, did not return. Upon arriving in Montrouis, Joseph found his sister Eva and learned that his father, Clévers, had taken a sailboat to the island of La Gonâve, intending to go to Petit-Guave and then return to Bainet. Joseph went back to Bainet to inform his mother, Merancia. When he returned to Bainet, he found that his father had already returned home. At that time, Montrouis had a thriving economy with plenty of job opportunities. Joseph asked and received his parents' permission to return to Montrouis to work. He settled there in 1966 at the age of 24. Joseph Elicot (Lescot) Chéry worked in Montrouis as a carpenter and farmer from 1966 to 1987. In November 1987, he traveled to the United States where he worked on Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships until December 2003. He returned to Montrouis, Haiti where he continued to work as farmer. He then returned to the United States in February 2008, obtained his permanent resident status in August 2009, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in December 2016. Joseph met his wife, Marie Mesilia, in December 1969, after a previous failed relationship from which he had three children. They moved in together in the Fall of 1971 and were married on December 27, 1980. Joseph Elicot Chéry was a man of deep faith in Jesus-Christ. He believed in hard work, in building a solid family legacy based on moral values and honesty, and in educating and preparing children to be useful and productive to serve the society and God's work on earth. As Sunday School superintendent, church leader, and longtime member of the Church of the Nazarene in Lanzac, Haiti, he greatly contributed to the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus-Christ in the commune of Montrouis, Haiti. He taught the Word of God, prayed with people, and always encouraged others. He took great pleasure in making generous financial contributions for the advancement of God's work. Our father, Joseph Elicot Chéry, taught us the value of prayer and the importance of faithfulness in tithes and offerings. He was a proud father who happily expended his financial resources to educate his children. He deeply loved his grand children and his sons and daughters in law, treating them as his own children. He was a friend of everyone whereever he went. He never believed he had enemies. He taught his children and his sons in law and daughters in law not to hate anyone, but to be vigilant in our dealings with others, to work hard, to educate ourselves, and to serve God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Joseph Elicot Chéry is survived by his beloved family, including his wife and partner of 55 years, Marie Mesilia Germain, his 14 children and 36 grandchildren, his two brothers and two sisters, his daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, his nephews and nieces, his cousins, and the members of his church. His radiant personality will be deeply missed. His favorite Bible passage was Psalm 43, and his favorite hymn was number 132 – French Song of Hope – “Hope in God when the night is dark.” He went through some painful and difficult times in the 1980s. During that time, his Christian faith grew stronger; he sang this hymn and read Psalm 43, and continued to do so until his death. We expectantly look forward to the great day of the resurrection when all the dead in Christ shall rise first; and we shall see him again as we take off to meet our Lord and Savior Jesus-Christ in the air, and so we will always be together (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

JOSPEH ELICOT CHERY

July 7, 1942 - February 18, 2026

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