Obituary of Bernadette Casimir

June 1, 2024

BERNADETTE CASIMIR

January 14, 1936 – June 1, 2024

Bernadette Casimir, affectionately referred to as “Mama” by everyone, was born on January 14, 1936, in La Colline, Haiti. Her father, Achille Luxy Claude, was a police chief and her mother Ostelie was a housewife and ran a small convenience store. She bore her husband 8 children – 5 boys and 3 girls. Mama was their 2^nd child.

Mama met and married Samuel Joseph Dit Casimir, a farmer and businessman, in 1954 in La Colline. Mama loved children and always wanted her children to be healthy and happy. Mama and Samuel raised 8 children together, Yolaine, Edith, Jean Francois, Carline, Mireille, Yves Samuel, Yves Achille, and the cocotte, Nicole Marie.

In 1976 Mama followed her husband to New York City, and they began to split their time between their home in Port-au-Prince, their farms in La Colline, and Brooklyn.  They raised all their children as Roman Catholics and insisted and helped all their children get excellent educations.

When Samuel died suddenly in Haiti on June 2, 1996, at the age of 62, Mama’s life changed. She had always been a deeply devout Catholic and thereafter dedicated more and more of her time to the church, her children, and her extended family. She was a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Venerable Pierre Toussaint General Choir, the Legion of Mary, and the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi  in Brooklyn from July 1987 to June 1996 and subsequently served many of the same roles in Haiti.

Mama was generous to everyone. She fed her neighbors whenever possible. She adopted “everyone” and brought Adnel Aristor (her husband Samuel’s great-nephew) to live with her in her house in Port-au-Prince in 2001 when he was only 6 years old. In 2014 she added Adnel’s younger brother Andrenel and together with Madame Lucie, the family lived a happy life in the Port-au-Prince home.

Mama regularly traveled back and forth from NYC and Haiti to see her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She doted on every one of them and was so proud of every single member of her very large family.

Mama died at age 88 in Manhattan on June 1, 2024, one day before the anniversary of the death of her husband, Samuel Joseph Dit Casimir, on June 2, 1996.

Mama is survived by 4 of her siblings, Luxy Claude of New York, Robert Claude of Florida, Paul Claude of Massachusetts, and Marie Smith Michaud of Massachusetts, and all of her 8 children (Yolaine, Edith, Jean Francois, Carline, Mireille, Yves Samuel, Yves Achille, and Nicole Marie), 18 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren and a huge extended family in both New York and in Haiti.

Mama loved God, was devoted to the Virgin Mary, and was always respectful and mindful of others.

Mama will always hold a special place in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Rest in peace with Samuel, dearest Mama.

 

 

BERNADETTE CASIMIR FUNERAL CELEBRATION

Friday, June 7, 2024

VIEWING

5 PM to 6 PM Family Hour with Fr. Michael Corcione

6 PM to 9 PM Open Visitor Viewing

Greenwich Village Funeral Home

199 Bleecker Street (between 6^th Ave & MacDougal)

New York, NY 10012

Tel: 212-674-8055

 

Parking: Park-It Thompson Street

221 Thompson Street (between Bleecker & W. 3^rd)

New York, NY 10012

Bring your ticket to Funeral Home for validation.

 

Saturday, June 8, 2024

FUNERAL MASS

11 AM – 12 Noon

Fr. Michael Corcione OFM

Opening Hymn – Amazing Grace

First Reading – Ecclesiastes

Second Reading – 2^nd Letter of St. Paul to Timothy

Gospel According to John

Offertory Hymn – Ave Maria by Schubert

Intercessions

Communion Hymn – Panis Angelicus

Recessional Hymn – How Great Thou Art

 

Church of St. Anthony of Padua

154 Sullivan Street (at Houston Street)

New York, NY 10012

 

Parking: same

 

FUNERAL BRUNCH CELEBRATION

12:15 PM to 3:15 PM

Jane Restaurant

100 West Houston Street

New York, NY 10012

40 Persons Maximum

 

Zoom Link

Service for Bernadette Casimir

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82025500261?pwd=bANDVgKWSnU7b6dq6leUwhxJj1YtrZ.1

Meeting ID: 820 2550 0261
Passcode: 406031