Erzulie Lily Compas

Erzulie was born September 13, 1932 in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, to Carmelia Joseph-Elias and Elhomme Romezie. She was raised and educated in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and became a businesswoman by the tender age of seven. Erzulie learned how to design and create undergarments for women in her community and sold them for just $1. Even though she came from humble beginnings, she was destined to lift her family out of poverty, so she did! She was so talented that her reputation as a seamstress preceded her. She began designing and tailoring elaborate suits and beautiful intricate gowns for the Elite Society of Haiti. Erzulie also taught aspiring designers and seamstresses the craft of construction, draping, sketching, pattern making, crocheting, knitting, and embroidery. She was also very well known for her incredible cooking and baking skills…her lasagna was beyond delicious!

Erzulie loved to travel for business as well as leisure, visiting countries in South America, the Caribbean, parts of Europe, and Canada. She moved to the United States in 1966, where she met and married Jean-Baptiste Clotaire Compas Sr. in Brooklyn, NY; they were married for 21 years. He passed away in September 1988. They had two children together; they also lovingly raised three children from her previous relationship. Erzulie held various jobs in her early years in the U.S. but eventually retired after 12 years working for Camp Venture Industries as a seamstress in 1993. After retirement, she pursued her lifelong dream again as a fashion designer. She retired as Head Technical Designer for Be Confidential Intimates based in Brooklyn, NY, in 2009.

Erzulie was a devout Christian who attended church regularly until she could not physically do so. She passed down her love of Christ to her children so that they may continue in the teachings and its traditions; she believed in Christ’s teachings of the importance and respect of family.

Erzulie is predeceased by her late husband, Jean-Baptiste Clotaire Compas Sr., and her siblings Odette Bruno and Lucien Basquiat. She is survived by her children, Michelle Berrouet, Arlite Romezie, Joelle Franck, Jean Baptiste C. Compas Jr., and Nutcha (Native) Elianor. She is also survived by her in-laws, Jean Colbert Franck, Isabel Gonzalez Compas, Jean-Claude Elianor, and Marie-Michelle Basquiat; 19 grandchildren, Nakia Moscatello, Rosney Louis Jr., Fabian Louis, Mahli St. Cloud, Sandy Cadet, Margie Berrouet, Laura Allen-Taylor, Erica Krider, Leanne Franck, Andrew Franck, Christopher Compas, Jordan Compas, Brianna Compas, Devyn Compas, Cylicia Binns, Jean-Luc Elianor, Channing Elianor, Samuel Elianor, and Lily-Simone Elianor. She also has 19 great-grandchildren, her Best Friend Nini Solon, and Gilda Elianor; Her God-children Nirva Bruno, Antoine Basquiat, and so many more family members, such as the Watsons, the Azors, the Solons, the Brunos, the Toussaints, the Basquiats, the Jean-Baptiste’s, the Fontaine’s, the Etienne’s and the Cadets.

A visitation for Erzulie will be held Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern, New York 10901. A funeral mass will occur Friday, June 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St Joseph's Church, 245 N Main St, Spring Valley, New York 10977. An interment will occur Friday, June 10, 2022 at Brick Church Cemetery, 221 Brick Church Rd., New Hempstead, NY 10977.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wanamakercarlough.com for the Compas family.