Violet Deloris Carbone

July 13, 1925 – October 6, 2023

Violet Deloris Carbone, born through the union of Ann Pamela and Alfred Arthur Moitt on an island ringed with coral reefs, known for it’s many sandy beaches and blue waters. The Island of Antigua, her homeland, where she learned to swim and enjoy her childhood on those sandy beaches and blue waters with her beloved older sisters Ruth and Enid, and close friends. She was the fourth of five children. Violet was raised by her paternal grandmother Esther Molyneaux, who served as the Warden of a women’s prison where Violet paved her childhood years and attended Thomas Oliver Robinson (TOR) Memorial School. Her love of netball, swimming, sports and enjoying life were some of most talked about memories. Esther, her grandmother, had a special place in her heart. After retiring in the 1950’s Esther became ill. The love and care Esther bestowed upon her granddaughters, Violet returned that love as she sat and slept at the end of Esther’s bed while she rested until her passing in 1954. She was her caretaker, as Esther was hers. Upon completing school, Violet became employed as a Civil Servant. In the year of 1942, she married McChesney George a handsome man who in her words was also a good dancer- one of the criteria for dating she shared. Of this union four children were born, Moira, McChesney, Hakim and Yvette her youngest. Although blessed with four children from the marriage to McChesney, life longevity was not its destiny. In 1955 she became part of the Windrush Era of colonial subjects who emigrated to Great Britain, seeking a better life for her children and herself. This life altering decision inspired her to apply to nursing school, and in 1961 she earned an associate degree from Royal Buckinghamshire School of Nursing. Although, this was a great accomplishment, her time in Great Britain was tinged with racism, sexism, and xenophobia. However, her resilience allowed her to persevere as a woman of color and provided great nursing care for her patients. In 1963 Violet emigrated to the United States seeking better opportunities and settled in New York city where her mother previously lived until her passing at a young age. This was many years prior to Violet’s arrival in the city. After settling in New York, she reunited with her two youngest children and her grandson Colin, all whom she had left in Antigua as she prepared herself the foundation to give them a life of security and love. Her eldest child Moira had married and lived in England. In this same year she found love again and married Joseph Carbone an Italian American. It wasn’t until 1967 their union as an interracial marriage was recognized by the Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia- legalizing interracial marriages throughout the United States.

Violet continued to pursue higher levels of education and in 1980 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in nursing from Mercy College in New York and in 1982 a master’s degree in human services with a specialization in Gerontology from the College of New Rochelle. Her career as a registered nurse ended in 1994 after retiring from Pelham Parkway Nursing Home as the Director of Nursing. Despite her retiring from the facility Violet could not resist sneaking treats into the facility to her former patients. Post this retirement she would occasionally work as a school nurse. In 2004, Violet joined her youngest daughter Yvette for another major life change, settling in Houston where she snapped her fingers offbeat to country music, settled in and enjoyed watching reality television late into the evening and swam in the community pool three days a week. However, some of her most enjoyable moments were quiet time alone- as her daughter would say “she liked her own company most”. Violet, also known as MUM, Grammie, Granny and of course Vi, made her own rules, crafted the life she imagined and expressed loved in her own special way. In her final months of life, she enjoyed the company of her oldest daughter who traveled from London and her granddaughter Carol who visited her from Canada. She smiled as she expressed how much she enjoyed the lotion messages they gave her, in addition to the undivided attention and conversation. She enjoyed chocolate cake as she declined her regular food. As her awareness, conversation and strength declined her facial expression declared it’s my time to rest. However, she always found the strength to react to the voice of her grandson Colin, until she lost the battle to respond once more. She was not alone during her transition, she heard the voices of and felt the warmth of hands she once seen, inhaled her last breath before falling into her final resting place. The staff who cared for her, stopped by to express their condolences, some shared tears and other expressed how much they had become to enjoy the ninety-eight-year-old nurse, who continued to be a nurse as she was cared for by her health care professional peers. “Once a nurse, always a nurse” as a nurse would say.

As her health deteriorated, she was no longer able to attend church; driven to by her daughter Yvette there and she always had an arranged ride back home. Violet purchased subscription for a daily bible study and read daily. Church was enjoyed on Sunday mornings as she rested in bed or sat in her recliner in the living room. Even on days when she was tired and weary, she completed her daily bible study assignment and watched church on Sundays.

Violet is preceded in death by her sons, McChesney Jr., Hakim, her sisters Ruth, Sheila, Enid, and brother Charles. She leaves to mourn her passing daughters Moira Brooks and Yvette George, and Son-in-Law Steve Brooks who she was very fond of. Grandchildren, Colin, Michael, Carol, Aqeelah, Aisha, and Jesse; eight great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Mom, Mum, Aunt Vi, VI-, you maybe gone; but not forgotten.

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