Cenicia Cajuste

With profound love and gratitude, we remember our beloved Cenicia (formerly Lalanne) Cajuste, whose life was a shining example of faith, compassion, and perseverance. Born on October 10, 1943, in Jacmel, Haiti. She was raised in Port-au-Prince alongside her three siblings (Brandt Cajuste, Yves Cajuste, and Marie Ceinor) by her devoted parents, Mezina Anier and Andre Cajuste. Affectionately known as Santa, she grew into a kind, hardworking, and determined young woman. After completing her studies, she pursued her passion for sewing at the historic and prestigious J.B. Damier Vocational School. It was there that she met the love of her life, Villefranche Lalanne. They married on March 15, 1969, and together they built a loving family with their three children: James, Guerlyne, and Gregg.

In 1970, Santa moved to New York with her young family in hopes of creating a better life and greater opportunities. Not long after, she and her husband began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. She embraced the comforting promise of a new world under God’s Kingdom and was baptized in 1972. From that moment on, her life was deeply anchored in her faith. Santa devoted herself wholeheartedly to the ministry—zealously sharing the good news with everyone she met, conducting Bible studies, and participating faithfully in congregation activities. She was a constant, supportive presence at the Kingdom Hall and was known for her warm encouragement and spiritual strength.

In the late 1970s, the family relocated to Miami and later to Fort Lauderdale, where Santa continued her enthusiastic service to Jehovah. Even as her health declined in recent years, her faith never wavered. After moving to Georgia, she became known for her dedicated participation in Zoom ministry. And in her final months, when she could no longer write or make calls, she still attended meetings—propped up with pillows or carefully transferred to her wheelchair—determined to remain active in her worship.

Throughout her life, Santa devoted herself wholeheartedly to caring for her children, her family, and her spiritual brothers and sisters. She was a loving mother, a loyal daughter and sister, and a steadfast servant of God, always putting her service to Jehovah above all else. Even after long nights at work, she would choose to serve in the ministry before taking time to rest. Her radiant smile, genuine warmth, and generous hospitality left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Santa's life was a true testament to faith, compassion, humility, and perseverance. She never allowed illness or physical limitations to define her, continuing to worship and serve Jehovah with unwavering dedication until the very end. Anchored by the promise in Job 14:15—“You will call, and I will answer you; You will long for the work of your hands”—she remained joyful in her love for Jehovah, her family, her friends, and her worldwide brotherhood.

Santa is survived by her beloved children and their spouses: James (DeAndra) Lalanne, Guerlyne (Antoine) Bien-Aime, and Gregg (Farah) Lalanne; five cherished grandchildren—Kealan Lalanne, Jada Lalanne, Giovanni Bien-Aime, Gianna Bien-Aime, and Layla Lalanne; and two precious great-grandchildren, Kyelynn Lalanne and Ahsih Lalanne. She is also survived by her brother Yve Cajuste, her aunt Ilhana Anier Same, her uncle Jean Claude Delia, her cousin Jocelyne Saturne, dear friends Nancie Louise-Emilie and Raymonde Joseph; a host of nieces, nephews, including Rolandson Ceinor and Diane Dieudonne, both children of her late sister, Marie Ceinor; cousins and dear friends.

In addition, she is survived by the Cajuste Family, Anier Family, Lalanne Family, Delia Family, Ceinor Family, Bien-Aime Family, Cola Family, Saturne Family, Same Family, and Same Jeanlouis Family, all of whom meant so much to her.

She will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by all whose lives she enriched.

Avèk yon pwofon lanmou e ak rekonesans, nou sonje byeneme nou an Cenicia Cajuste ki nan lavi l, te yon bèl egzanp lafwa, konpasyon ak pèseverans. Li te fèt nan dat 10 oktòb 1943, nan Jakmèl, Ayiti. Li te grandi nan Pòtoprens ansanm ak twa frè ak sè li yo (Brandt Cajuste, Yves Cajuste, ak Marie Ceinor) pa paran li yo ki te devwe; Mezina Anier ak Andre Cajuste. Yo te rele li afektyezman Santa, epi li te grandi pou l vin yon jèn fi ki janti, ki renmen travay, e ki gen detèminasyon. Apre li te fini etid li yo, li te pouswiv pasyon l pou koud nan lekòl vokasyonèl istorik e prestijye J.B. Damier. Se la li te rankontre moun li renmen an, Villefranche Lalanne. Yo te marye nan dat 15 Mas, 1969, epi ansanm yo te bati yon fanmi ki plen lanmou ak twa pitit yo: James, Guerlyne, ak Gregg.

Nan ane 1970, Santa te demenaje pou la l viv New York ak jèn fanmi li nan espwa pou yon kreye yon lavi miyò ak plis opòtinite. Yon ti tan apre, li menm ak mari li te kòmanse etidye Labib ak Temwen Jewova yo. Li te akeyi pwomès rekonfòtan ki fè konnen pral gen yon monn Nouvo anba dominasyon Wayòm Bondye a epi li te batize nan ane 1972. Depi moman sa a, lavi li te solidman ankre nan lafwa li. Santa te konsakre tèt li nèt nan ministè a. Ak anpil zèl li te pataje bon nouvèl la ak tout moun li te rankontre, li te kontan etidye Labib avèk yo, e li te patisipe fidèlman nan aktivite kongregasyon an. Li te toujou la nan reyinyon yo, e tout moun te konnen l kòm yon moun ki renmen ankouraje lòt moun e ki djanm nan domèl espirityèl.

Nan fen ane 1970 yo, fanmi an te demenaje Miami e touswit aprè nan Fort Lauderdale, kote Santa te kontinye sèvi Jewova ak anpil zèl. Menm lè sante li te vin febli nan dènye ane yo, lafwa li pa t janm brannen. Apre li te dememaje Georgia, akoz pwoblèm sante, yo te vin rekonèt li pou lanmou l ak fason li te toujou devwe poul patisipe nan predikasyon sou zoom. E nan dènye mwa li te fè ap viv yo, byenke li pat kapab preche ni pa telfòn ni ekri lèt ankò, li te toujou asiste reyinyon yo sou zoom byenke sa te mande anpil efò pou yo tranfere l sou yon chèz woulant e sipòte l ak plizyè zòrye. Li te detèmine pou l rete aktif nan adorasyon li pou Jewova jiska lafen.

Pandan tout lavi li, Santa te konsakre tèt li nèt ak tout kèl pou l pran swen pitit li, fanmi li, ak frè ak sè espirityèl li yo. Li te yon manman ki plen lanmou, yon pitit fi ak yon sè ki fidèl, epi li te yon sèvitè Bondye ki fidèl, ki fèm, e ki te toujou mete sèvis li pou Jewova anvan tout lòt bagay. Menm apre l fin pase yon nwit long ap travay, li te toujou chwazi patisipe nan ministè a anvan li pran tan pou l repoze. Bèl Souri ki te toujou klere sou visaj li, chalè lanmou sense li te dgaje, jenerozite l, ak bèl espri ospitalite li te genyen, te toujou kite yon bèl enpresyon dirab sou tout moun li te rankontre. Lavi Santa te yon temwayaj reyèl de lafwa, konpasyon, imilite, ak pèseverans. Li pa t janm kite maladi oswa limit fizik anpeche l bay Jewova Bondye l la yon adorasyon ki san fay jiska lafen. Paske lafwa l te ankre nan pwomès ki nan Jòb 14:15 lan ki di: “Ou pral rele, e mwen pral reponn ou; Ou pral anvi travay men ou yo”. Santa te kontinye rete kontan nan lanmou li pou Jewova, fanmi li, zanmi li yo ak frè ak sè li yo atravè lemond antye.

Santa kite dèyè pitit li yo li te renmen anpil ak mari ak madanm yo: James (DeAndra) Lalanne, Guerlyne (Antoine) Bien-Aime, ak Gregg (Farah) Lalanne; senk pitit pitit li yo li te adore—Kealan Lalanne, Jada Lalanne, Giovanni Bien-Aime, Gianna Bien-Aime, ak Layla Lalanne; epi de pitit pitit pitit li yo ki presye anpil, Kyelynn Lalanne ak Ahsih Lalanne. Li kite tou frè li Yve Cajuste, matant li Ilhana Anier Same, tonton li Jean Claude Delia, kouzin li Jocelyne Saturne, bon zanmi li Nancie Louise-Emilie ak Raymonde Joseph; plizyè neve ak nyès, enkli Rolandson Ceinor ak Diane Dieudonne, tou de pitit defen sè li, Marie Ceinor; kouzen ak bon zanmi.

Anplis de sa, li kite dèyè Fanmi Cajuste, Fanmi Anier, Fanmi Lalanne, Fanmi Delia, Fanmi Ceinor, Fanmi Bien-Aime, Fanmi Cola, Fanmi Saturne, Fanmi Same, ak Fanmi Same Jeanlouis, tout moun ki te gen anpil enpòtans pou li.

Nou pral sonje li anpil, men li pral rete vivan ak lanmou ki nan kè tout moun ke lavi l te anrichi.