Bernadette Elie

*January 16, 1951 – June 2, 2025*

On June 2, 2025, our dear Bernadette Elie closed her eyes in death, leaving behind a life of kindness, quiet strength, and unwavering faith. Born on January 16, 1951, in the city of Cap-Haïtien (Okap), Haiti, Bernadette was a cherished daughter of Moncey Jeannite and Fena Valcimond.

Bernadette’s early years were shaped by her close relationship with her family. She shared a special closeness with her siblings: Harry, Adrien, Claudette, and Ann Marie. She was a loving sister, someone they could confide in, and a supporter to them all. She attended school and received a good education. Afterwards, she pursued her education at Lekol Hoteliere (culinary arts school) hoping to become a chef. During this period, she began learning the truth about God. At a young age, engaged in sharing her faith with others about her God alongside her sisters and dear friends. Along with her interest came progress. Bernadette made a life-defining decision when she dedicated herself to her God Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on November 17, 1973.

When some of the family moved to Port-au-Prince, Bernadette soon joined them. She then moved back to Okap and started working as a perfumery saleswoman— where her natural grace and personable nature earned her promotions and a reputation as a hard worker.

It was during her time in Okap that Bernadette’s spiritual journey blossomed even more. There, she met Elie, who would become her loving husband on December 10, 1996. Together, they built a pleasant life centered around faith, family, and simple joys.

Upon moving to the United States on September 14 1996, she continued her faithful ministry with the elizabeth french congregation and later with the clark french congregation, where she became known for her mild spirit, generosity, and devotion to Bible study. Wanting to make a living, Bernadette took great pride in completing a Nurse Aid program, always finding ways to care for others — whether professionally or in personal acts of compassion.

Those who know Bernadette will remember her quiet wisdom and kind heart. She was a thoughtful listener — the kind of person you could turn to, knowing you’d be met with warmth and understanding. Her sisters fondly recall Bernadette’s generosity, hospitality, reasonableness, and her gentle refusal to insist on having her way. She made room for others' feelings, always seeking peace and unity.

Bernadette was a woman who loved to learn, one who reserved time for personal bible study and spiritual growth. She cherished her friends, loved to read, and held dear her connection to Jehovah and her spiritual family.

She is survived by her siblings: Her brother, Harry Jeannite, his children: Hardley, Kenny, Aiden; Her older brother, Joseph Adrien Jeannite, his wife Yolaine Jeannite, his children: Stephen and his children, and Carine Jeannite; Her younger sister, Marie Claudette Loture, her husband: Jean Edmé Loture; and the oldest, Ann Marie James, her husband Fulton James, her children: Patric, Philip, and Pascal along with their families. Bernadette also leaves behind a host of spiritual brothers and sisters whose lives she touched.

While our hearts ache with her absence, we find comfort in the words of Revelation 21:4 — “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more.” Until that promised day, we will treasure the memory of Bernadette’s gentle strength, generous spirit, and unwavering faith.

She will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and forever loved.

A visitation for Bernadette will be held Friday, June 20, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at KROWICKI MCCRACKEN FUNERAL HOME, 2124 East Saint George Ave, Linden, NJ 07036. A funeral talk will take place on Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM at Kingdom Hall, 1155 Magnolia Ave, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Followed by the committal service at Rosedale Cemetery, 750 E Linden Ave, Linden, NJ 07036.

**An memwa Bernadette Elie**

*16 janvye 1951 – 2 Jen 2025*

1-Nan dat ki te 2 Jen 2025 lan, Sè Bernadette Elie te fèmen je l nan lanmò. Li kite dèyè yon lavi plen ak aksyon chaje ak jantiyès, ak fòs, e yon lafwa san fay. Li te fèt nan dat 16 janvye 1951 nan vil Kap-Ayisyen (Okap) an Ayiti. Sè Bernadette te yon pitit fi Moncey Jeannite ak Fena Valcimond te renmen anpil.

Premye ane Bernadette yo te modle sou bon relasyon li te genyen ak fanmi li. Li te gen yon relasyon espesyal ak frè ak sè l yo: Harry, Adrien, Claudette ak Ann Marie. Li te yon sè yo te renmen anpil, yon moun yo te ka fè konfyans, epi yon sipò pou yo tout. Nan domen edikasyon, li te resevwa yon bon fomasyon. Apre sa, li te pousuiv etid li nan Lekòl Hoteliere avèk espwa pou l vin yon chèf kizin. Pandan peryòd sa a, li te kòmanse aprann laverite sou Bondye. Depi li te jen, li te pataje lafwa li ak lòt moun konsènan Bondye li a ansanm ak sè li yo ak bon zanmi li yo. Avèk enterè sa a li te vin fè pwogrè. Bernadette te pran yon desizyon ki te defini lavi li lè li te vwe lavi l bay Bondye li a, Jewova epi li te batize kòm Temwen Jewova nan dat 17 novanm 1973.

Lè kèk manm fanmi an te demenaje al Pòtoprens, Bernadette te vin jwenn yo. Apre sa, li te retounen Okap epi li te kòmanse travay yon kote yo vann pafen—kote kapasite natirèl li ak nati senp li te fè l jwenn promosyon ak yon repitasyon kòm yon moun ki travay di.

Se pandan li te nan Vil Okap vwayaj espirityèl Bernadette te fleri plis toujou. La, li te rankontre Elie li te renmen anpil, ki t ap vin mari l nan dat ki te 10 Novanm 1995 la. Ansanm, yo te bati yon bèl vi senp ki te santre sou lafwa, la fanmi ak lajwa.

Lè li te demenaje Ozetazini nan dat 14 Septanm 1996, li te kontinye sèvis fidèl li nan kongregation elizabeth fransè epi pita nan kongregasyon clark, kote yo te vin konnen li pou lespri dou li, jenewozite li ak devouman li pou etid bib la. Pou l te pran swen tèt li, Bernadette te fyè dèske li te konplete yon pwogram Nurses Aid, li te toujou jwenn fason pou l pran swen lòt moun—kit se pwofesyonèlman oswa nan aksyon konpasyon li yo.

Moun ki te konnen Bernadette ap sonje l pou sajès li ak bon kè li genyen. Li te yon moun ki te konn koute byen - kalite moun ou te ka pwoche fasilman ou konnen ou t ap jwenn chalè ak konpreyansyon. Sè l yo sonje avèk afeksyon jenewozite Bernadette, jan l te ospitalye, rezònab, ak jan l te refize ensiste pou l fè sa l vle. Li te fè plas pou santiman lòt moun, toujou ap chèche lapè ak inite.

Bernadette te yon moun ki te renmen aprann, yon moun ki te rezève tan pou etid biblik pèsonèl ak kwasans espirityèl li. Li te cheri zanmi l yo, li te renmen li anpil, epi li te apresye relasyon l ak Jewova ak fanmi espirityèl li a.

Li kite dèyè frè ak sè li yo : Demi-frè li, Harry Jeannite, pitit Harry yo : Hardley, Kenny, Aiden ; Gran frè li Joseph Adrien Jeannite, madanm li Yolaine Jeannite, pitit li yo : Stephen ak fanmi l ak Carine Jeannite; Ti sè li, Marie Claudette Lauture, mari li : Jean Edmé Lauture; ak pi gran an, Ann Marie James, mari li Fulton James, pitit li yo : Patric, Philip, ak Pascal ak fanmi yo. Bernadette kite dèyè yon pakèt frè ak sè espirityèl li te touche lavi yo.

Pandan kè nou ap fè nou mal pou absans li, nou jwenn konsolasyon nan pawòl Revelasyon 21:4 yo — “Epi li pral siye tout dlo nan je yo, epi lanmò p ap la ankò.” Pandan n ap tan jou pwomès sa a reyalize, nou pral cheri souvni Bernadette kite, yon lespri jenere ak yon lafwa san fay.

Nou pral sonje l anpil, nou pral sonje l avèk afeksyon, epi nou renmen l pou tout tan.