Wilhelmina Lolita Tifrere

Wilhelmina or “Mena” as she was known to her close friends and family, was born on the beautiful island of Barbados, West Indies, on September 25, 1932. She was the child of Louise Griffith (Mama) and David Edwards (Papa). She enjoyed a free and spirited childhood in St. Peter, Barbados, before immigrating to England in 1956 to study nursing. Mena became a nurse at Harrow Hospital in Middlesex, England and practiced in England for many years. She shared many stories about her time in England, such as how cold it was there compared to the island of her birth; the pinafore uniforms and thick cape like coats all nurses were required to wear; and how she had to ride a bicycle to visit patients during her midwifery rotation. Fortunately, her brother Cyrus had previously taught her how to ride a bicycle.

Mena came to America in 1966 to be with her mother and siblings who had already immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts. Two sisters (Hyacinth Layne and Leonora Mayo) and three brothers (Samuel, Cyrus, and Irving Griffith) have pre-deceased her. In 1967, Mena became a licensed registered nurse, and worked in many of the medical facilities in and around the Boston area, including the Boston Lying-in Hospital (which is now the Brigham and Women’s Hospital). She eventually retired in the 1990s from the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain.

Mena was a faithful member of Berea, Seventh Day Adventist Church and participated for years as a literature evangelist and in the nurses’ ministry at the Church.

Mena enjoyed traveling, exploring new and different places, and meeting all kinds of diverse people. She traveled extensively with friends to: Spain, France, and Venice. She was very outgoing and could strike up a conversation with anyone. Whenever she could, she loved to go back “home” to visit Barbados. One of her favorite past times was cooking and entertaining friends whom she often invited to her home for lunch after church on Sabbath. We all loved her to cook the national dish of Barbados: “cou-cou” and salt fish and to bake “coconut bread.” Mena also enjoyed singing, playing the piano, and sewing, as she had a distinctive taste for style.

She was a loving, caring person as was evident from the profession that she chose.

This beautiful spirit went home to be with the Lord on October 27, 2023.

Mena leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Heather Graham-Oliver (Raymond) of Silver Spring, MD; two grandsons: Jibreel Oliver (Jasmine) of Charlotte, N.C.; R. Andwele Oliver (Natima) of Silver, Spring, MD.; nephews, Justyn Mayo (Alicia) of Watertown, MA; Hasan Arnold (Marilyn) of Dorchester, MA; close friends, Elsie Bailey of Palm Beach, FL., Dorothy White and Erlene Hines of Hyde Park, MA; and a host of loving nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial service for Wilhelmina will be held Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Berea Seventh Day Adventist Church, 108 Seaver St., Boston, MA 02121.