Nelia Jean-Marie

She was the 5th of 10 children of Excellent and Nelie Payen.

She completed her primary education at the Ecole Saint Paul de la Vallee. Then she moved to Port-au-Prince to continue her studies and obtained a degree in education from Ecole Elie Dubois. After graduating she returned to La Vallee where she taught elementary education.

She got married and had 2 children Maggy and Pierrot.

She lived in Port-au-Prince for many years where her home became the open house for all her siblings’ children who needed to further their education.

Tante Tina raised all of us as her own and as a result we developed a strong bond that remains an important part of our lives to this day.

She moved to New York with her children in February 1972 where she joined her sisters Stephanie and Fernande.

She worked 2 jobs simultaneously, at Van Doren Nursing Home and New York Life Insurance to provide for her children. She then retired to Miami.

Hurricane Andrew made her return to New York with her sisters then she moved in with her son in Baldwin which is where she spent the rest of her life surrounded by her loving family.

Nelia is survived by her daughter Margareth, her son Pierre Richard, her son in law Roland Bellevue, her grandchildren Sasha, Cedric, Cybil, Sebastien and Didier, her great granddaughter Gia, her brother Jean and numerous nieces and nephews.

We will always remember you. Rest in peace Tante Tina.