Mary Quashie

Mary was born in Curaçao, on October 29, 1946, and lived her childhood in St. Kitts-Nevis with her mother Esther and her younger sister Mercedes. Though Mary had many interests in school, it was nursing that became her chosen profession, perfect for her commitment to care for others. She started general nursing studies and practice at the Cunningham Hospital in 1964; years later, she would work in optometric care.

She married Calais on July 7, 1966. They had four children—Cindy in 1967, Fay in 1968, Kevin in 1971, and Janelle in 1978.

In addition to nursing, Mary operated a small ice cream shop out of mother’s home in Dieppe Bay, and then expanded it into a mobile business. In 1974, she and her husband built a home in Points, both of them working to pour cement and break stone. This detail is characteristic of Mary’s diligence, her work ethic, which complemented beautifully her kindness and care. Moreover, Mary was a creative artist with fabric and thread; she became well-known for embroidery and crochet, and often attached a small elegant patch that said “Embroidered by Mary Quashie.” Anyone who owned a piece with that patch experienced it as a stamp of love, a confirmation that what you held in your hands was a deliberate aesthetic manifestation.

Mary and her family moved to Brooklyn in 1980 and then St. Croix, finally settling in Miami. There, she continued to work in eye care until retiring in 2009.

Mary loved to sing, especially gospel hymns; she also loved Christmas, which she organized as an extended celebration of kindness and gratitude. That notion of gratitude informed Mary’s steadfast commitment to supporting people who are poor and/or homeless, including her years-long practice of making donations to organizations and cultivating—and sustaining—relationships with everyday people who had fallen on misfortune.

Mary is survived by her husband of 54 years, Calais; three children (her daughter Cindy passed away three weeks before she did); four sisters and a brother: Mercedes, John, Roselyn, Princess, Yvonne. She also leaves behind a son-in-law, Francis; three beloved grandsons, Anthony, Francis, and Alex; and extended family in St. Croix, St. Kitts-Nevis, NY, NC, England, and Canada.

The family would like to thank the team of friends and workers who helped support Mary during her battle with Alzheimer’s disease in the past 12 years, as well as a supportive community at Hands of Life Worship Center.

Mary Rebecca Quashie radiated warmth and joy. Her smile was embracing and, like that embroidery patch, it was her signature. She will be missed dearly.