Fernande Jules Saint-Cyr

Fernande Jules Saint-Cyr was born in Drouyard, Haiti to Nicolas and Lamercie Jules on April 2nd, 1932. In 1952, she married Jean Dely Saint-Cyr and became Madame Dely Saint-Cyr (Madame Dely). Through the years you hardly ever heard the name Fernande. It was always Madame Dely or Sassa to her friends and relatives. After having children and grandchildren, her name changed one more time; she became Granny or Grann. Granny to her kids, Granny to her grandkids, and Granny to a whole community (Campeche Dumay) in Haiti.

She was a simple woman, a courageous woman, a kind woman, and the most tender loving woman. Her family loved her and she loved her family a thousand folds back. She lost her parents at an early age and was raised by family members who took her in. Although she never attended school, she was a teacher, the most important teacher. She had a way about her, a grace, a savoir faire. She taught everyone how to be; how to be kind, how to behave, how to be generous and more. She always told her family that she knew the meaning of A+B. A+B for her was how to behave or how to live within the community according to her norms and the principles of the family Saint-Cyr.  If one of them did something that she considered senseless, something unkind, something outside of the family character and norms, she would remind them of A+B. 

This simple woman was a proud woman, a strong woman, and a determined woman. We have been blessed to have her as our mother, grand-mother, and great grand-mother. We grew up loved and protected. She was our shield, a devoted catholic and had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary. Her rosary was always in her hand even when she was having conversation with others. Her faith was unshakable and as a result, her descendants feared no evil. This woman was our rock.

The family had its share of hard times and the strength of this woman was never questioned. Her husband was jailed in the 1970’s during the Duvalier regime, but through it, she never folded.  Some of her children were in Port-Au-Prince attending secondary school and some were still in Croix-des-Bouquets attending primary schooling. She managed both households on her own. Through her faith, prayers, and her savvy way of studying others, befriending people and endearing them, she negotiated the release of her husband. In 1995, her daughter died in NY and the family flew the body to Haiti to her final resting place. Fernande stood strong and gave her family the courage to deal with the passing of their beloved sister. 

Over the past 40 years, most of her children emigrated to the United states, and she became a U.S. resident.  She split her time between the US and Haiti, always wanting to care for those in Haiti.  In 2004, she lost her husband while they were in NY.  Again, she remained strong and continued to keep the family going. Since 2004, she was the sole head of the family Saint-Cyr, the family matriarch. 

While she enjoyed being in America and spending time with her kids and her grandkids, she  continued to split her time between the US and Haiti. She had a community in Haiti that was very dear to her, an apostolic community and the general community. She was an apostolat in Notre Dame de Lamercie Church.  Fernande was the last surviving elder in her family and she was still making sure that everyone was ok. 

On the morning of May 19, her sons, daughter, and nieces called her to check up on her since they heard she was not feeling well the day before. They all had a chance to have a last word with her. Sometime after 11 AM that morning she passed away. Our hearts are broken, but we  know that we have been blessed to call this beautiful woman Mom, Grandma, GRANNY. Our family, extended family, and her communities have been lucky to have her and to be with her throughout the years. We love her so much, and will forever miss her.

Fernande Jules Saint- Cyr, is survived by her children, Marie-Sonia Jules,( Wilfrid), Jean Wooly Saint-Cyr,( Marie-José), Jean Rosevelt Saint-Cyr,( Marie Yolene),  Jean Duclos Saintcyr, (Gertrude), Daniel St.Cyr (Dorothy), and Leonard Saint-Cyr,( Kathleen). 19 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren. and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Marie-Claude Saint- Cyr and by her husband Jean Dely Saint-Cyr

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