Marie-Thérèse Pierre-Antoine Menuau

Marie-Thérèse Menuau, formerly known as Marie-Thérèse Pierre-Antoine, was born on March 7, 1942 to Jacqueline and Louis Pierre-Antoine, in the history-rich city of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. She was the only surviving child born to this union.

Marie’s primary education began in her hometown of Cap-Haitien, at Les Sœurs de la Congrégation des Filles de Marie, commonly known as Mère Beige. An enthusiastic learner, and inspired by her mother, who was a gifted educator, she then matriculated to College Nésida to pursue her secondary education. While in High School, Marie devoted some of her time to singing in the Choir of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption du Cap-Haitien. Adding to her busy schedule, she joined the Troupe de Danse Folklorique Haïtienne.

Additionally, she followed in the footsteps of her Grandmother Philomène Volny Manigat, an accomplished and sought-after seamstress. Marie took up sewing, and needlepoints (broderie) and honed her craft. As a young passionate hobbyist, she designed and sewed not only for herself but for her friends and family. And it is needless to mention that her cooking skills were off the charts! (Yon fanm ak tout dis dwet li). She perfected the art and became ‘une femme bien faite’ (a well-done woman). She loved life and had an insatiable love for the arts. In the early 1960’s, shortly after the death of her father, Marie moved to Port-au-Prince to live with her uncle Jules Manigat, where she attended the Seminaire Adventiste Franco-Haitien de Diquini.

It’s an undeniable fact that Marie was the epitome of a renaissance woman, a true polyvalent. She was a perfectionist and excelled in everything she undertook. When her mother’s health began to decline and she could no longer work, young Marie, being an only child, saw fit to provide for her mom. She enrolled at the Institut Sténographique Pérrault and became a certified typist in 1968, which allowed her to join the workforce. Due to her increasing responsibilities and driven by the desire to earn a better living, Marie studied bookkeeping which enabled her to secure a more lucrative position at the Bureau des Contributions du Cap-Haitien.

It did not take long for a well-known, established and respected bachelor by the name of Pierre Menuau, the Director of the Bureau at the time, to notice her. Little did she know that Pierre would change the course of her life, as he began to relentlessly pursue her. At first, Marie objected to his advances, and in spite of the encouragement of their mutual friends and co-workers to return the sentiments, she did not give it a second thought, because she was 28 years his junior. Therefore, she decided to transfer to the Bureau des Contributions in Port-au-Prince. Pierre, undeterred, managed to move to Port-au-Prince with the hope of winning her heart. In 1972, Marie gladly migrated to Montreal, Canada where she spent two years working. Pierre, however, did not abandon his long-cherished dream, and to Marie’s great surprise, he showed up in Canada to visit her and at last stole her heart. He then proposed to her and convinced her to move back to Haiti.

Soon after, on December 21, 1974, Marie and Pierre were married in Cap-Haitien, where she resettled. To this union were born two beautiful and precious girls: Marline and Pascale. She sought to instill in her daughters a love for God and a passion for spiritual things by teaching them all the hymns and psalms that she had learned during the years spent with her uncle. Being an adventurous person, Marie enjoyed traveling, meeting new people and trying new things. During the summertime, desiring that her children remain close to their family, she would frequently travel overseas to visit with them. When she felt confined to the home while the girls were little, she had the ingenious idea to bring the fun in by opening a ‘chic boutique’ in the lower level of the home, which in reality, was a hangout place for her and her friends. Marie not only loved life, but she loved people and thrived in helping others. It did not matter who you were, a friend, a family member or a stranger on the street, she was always ready to lend a helping hand. And please, let us not forget her skillful ability to tease people, even to tears. She would go to great length to pull the most elaborate pranks. A master domino, bézigue, and checkers (damier) player, she was without a doubt the life of any social gathering.

When the social and political conditions in Haiti started to deteriorate, Marie decided to migrate to the United States. In the summer of 1989, she arrived in Massachusetts with her two children, her pride and joy. She eventually relocated to Queens, New-York, where she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Park Terrace Care Center. It was however, in the Summer of 1995, that the greatest and most exciting event took place in Marie’s life. She discovered in a much more profound way the love of her Savior Jesus-Christ; hence, she gave her life to Him and was baptized as a member of the Siloé Seventh-Day Adventist church in Queens, N.Y. With her newfound faith, Marie played an active role in her congregation. She served as the Sabbath School Department Clerk. Later, she became a member of the Treasury Department and a devout deaconess for several years.

In 2008, Marie retired and joined her eldest daughter Malou and her family in Florida. At first, she attended the End-Time Sabbath Worship Center and later, the Salem Free Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She settled gracefully into retirement life; however, her passion for designing and sewing children’s clothing was rekindled, and she once again found enjoyment in a craft that she had neglected while working in New York.

Unfortunately, in the fall of 2011, “Mommy Toy,” as she was affectionately called by her children and grandchildren, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Far from becoming discouraged and depressed, she would often sing: “Dieu tout-puissant, Dieu de ma délivrance. Je mets en toi toute mon espérance.” She also drew her strength from participating in several Prayer Lines, and actively raised funds for their outreach activities. Her health was once again challenged in 2014, when she was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoma. In spite of the pain and discomfort while undergoing chemotherapy, she remained courageous, jovial and positive. She did not become bitter; she had no regrets. Instead, she relied on God, her true source of relief. To the end of her journey, Marie displayed beauty, grace and a great sense of humor.

Marie-Thérèse Menuau passed away peacefully on November 12, 2019, at home surrounded by her children, grandchildren and cousins. She leaves behind to remember her with love and affection: her Daughters: Marline Charles and Pascale Séjour; her Sons-in-Law: Max Charles and Farly Séjour; her Grandchildren: Christian, Imani, Victoria, Alexis and Emily; her Brother: André Pierre-Antoine, her Cousins, Juliette Jean-Baptiste and family, Jeannine Green and family, Judith Jean-Baptiste and family, Junon Brutus and family, Jules Jr. Manigat and family and Darlande Raymond and family; her Nephews and Nieces: Lunie, Arbentz, Morton, Emmanuel, Winnie and Judel Pierre-Antoine and their respective families. In addition, a host of other families and friends are affected by this loss.

We know that our dear Marie is now resting, but we believe that at the glorious return of her Lord and Savior Jesus-Christ, when the trumpet shall sound, at the voice of the Archangel, she will rise to receive her crown of victory. Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.

May we all be ready for that great day!