Benoit migrated from Jeremie, Haiti to New York, USA. With only an elementary grasp of English, he worked various jobs to earn a living. He drove a taxi at one point and later worked as a janitor at Coney Island hospital. He worked very hard to master the English language and saved most of his earnings for his family still in Haiti. He dutifully sent money “back home” and eventually, saved up enough to arrange travel for his mother, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters. He helped his entire family make a new start in America. While working a challenging schedule, he started taking college classes. He decided to become a nurse and soon graduated from the program. His coworkers were surprised to see him go from janitor to nurse in a few short years.
During his time in New York, he became father to Berdine Janvier-Miller, Adrien Janvier, and Steve Janvier.
Later, he moved to Baltimore Maryland and continued working as a nurse for the Johns Hopkins Healthcare System. He originally had planned to continue his education to become a medical doctor. But, his priorities in life were changing.
While working at the hospital, he met Primrose (Penny). As they courted, they also studied the Bible together. He was moved to dedicate his life to Jehovah and symbolized it with water baptism as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on April 4, 1981.
They married July 18, 1981 and later gave birth to 3 children: Benoit Jr., and twins Jenelle and Jeanette.
While he ended his formal education by graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1983 from Coppin University, his spiritual training was far from over.
Benoit loved serving as a Christian Minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the White Marsh Congregation for some 40 years. He loved raising his family in the warmth of the loving congregation environment. He enjoyed studying the Bible with his family and participating in the public ministry with them.
Over the years, he was able to serve the congregation in different ways. In the early 1990s he served as a Ministerial Servant in the congregation, assisting it’s function in practical ways. Later, he was appointed to serve as an Elder in the congregation, taking the lead in teaching, counselling, and the ministry. For over 20 years and until his last breath, he served as the Coordinator of the Body of Elders. In that capacity he’s helped to encourage, motivate, and guide many to grow as spiritual people. He also enjoyed additional assignments such helping to oversee Circuit Events where thousands would gather for special spiritual programs.
Consistent with his nature to care for others, Benoit founded the National Association of Chemical Dependency Nurses (NACDN) in 2005, whose mission is to provide and maintain quality nursing care for individuals and families with Substance Use Disorders. They achieved this via education, training and research--promoting a superior level of knowledge in the field of Chemical Dependency Nursing. He was proud to serve as President for 16 years.
Benoit will be remembered for his ability to show calmness in a crisis, his reasonableness, his love, his kindness, and the way he loved to laugh. He loved his family and loved the congregation. Without a doubt, he will be remembered for the way that he took care of people.
He was the first from his family to come to the United States from Haiti and he took care to see that all his siblings and family came over and were able to succeed.
He took care of his wife and children, striving to care for their unique spiritual, emotional, and material needs.
He took care of the dear friends in the congregation, treating the younger men like sons and younger women like daughters. He served as a father figure to many many more than his 6 biological children.
He often encouraged others to Trust in the God of All Comfort, which was his favorite talk to give.
He freely shared sage, practical advice to anyone who was wise enough to listen:
“Take one day at a time”
“ Keep it simple”
“don’t be anxious”
“be thankful”
“expect nothing”
“appreciate everything”
He lived the words he preached. The ripple effects of his example, love, direction, and support, will stretch on into eternity.
Benoit is survived by his wife, Primrose; children, Berdine Janvier, Adrien Janvier, Steve Janvier and spouse Brenda Janvier, Benoit Janvier Jr. and spouse Megan Janvier, Jenelle Janvier, and Jeanette Janvier. Grandchildren Brea, Duran, Aaron, Eva, Angelina, Maya, and Sophie. Brother Jean Gerard “Na” Bonnet, Sister Viola Janvier, and Luce Bonnet- Augustin. Nieces Monique Gaston and Gabby Bonnet-Joseph, many more nieces and nephews, close cousins Abel Augustin and Prenel Anelas. And a host of other family and friends.
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