Marie Bernadette Lazarre

Today we are honoring and remembering Marie Bernadette Lazarre. She was born on May 16, 1964 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She was the youngest of her four siblings: Yves Errie, Daniel Gaston, Betty Gaston, and her half-sister Marie Michelle Gaston, born to Pierre Gaston and Marie Senat. Her older brother, Yves Errie passed away in 1986. She went to school in Haiti. While growing up with her siblings, she was always a sweet, and joyful sister. In 1983 Bernadette came to the United States to live with her father in Sunnyside, Brooklyn. Not long after her two siblings, Betty and Daniel, joined her in the United States.

Marie Bernadette Lazarre was a woman of grace, courage, compassion, and self-sacrifice; always putting others before herself. While it breaks our heart not to have her with us at this time, she leaves behind a lifetime of great memories that we will forever cherish and the wonderful lessons she instilled in us; making us who we are today. Bernadette was a half-glass-full type of person, always seeing the positive side of every situation. She never feared embarking on different adventures. With her vibrant demeanor and passion for life, rooms would light up and many were encouraged.

Although still young, and with her whole life ahead of her, she devoted her time, resources, and energy to help raise her nieces, Nadege Pierre and Fabiola Pierre as though they were her own. Having their father die while they were still young, Bernadette took on the role of both father and a mother by helping to raise her two nieces alongside her older sister Betty. Without fail, Bernadette consistently provided for nieces, nephews as well as other family members in Haiti. Even if it meant sacrificing her own needs she would do so without ever complaining or expecting anything in return. She became a mother, aunty, as well as a mentor to her nieces and nephews back home in Haiti. Although life had some unexpected changes and challenges, together with her sister and Jehovah as their guide, they were strong and always managed wonderfully.

Of all the wonderful qualities she had, the greatest Bernadette possessed was love. The way she loved was truly admirable. She loved hard and unconditionally. She was a loving wife to Patrick Lazarre. She was a devoted mother and the love she had for her daughter Rachelle never failed. After a tragic car accident on August 9, 2003, she was never the same. During her weakest point in life, while in the hospital, the sight and voice of her daughter always gave her the strength to open her eyes; even when it was hard for her to do so. There was nothing she would not do for her.

On Friday, March 12, 2021, our beautiful Bernadette fell asleep in death at Queens Presbyterian Hospital. She is survived by her only daughter Rachelle Lazarre. Her siblings Betty Gaston, Daniel Gaston, Marie Michelle Gaston, sister-in-law Yolette Gaston, and her nieces and nephews: Nadege Pierre, Fabiola Pierre, Yves Marthe Errie, Guerdy Errie, Reginal Errie, Peterson Errie, Daphney Errie, Johane Gaston, Bonhof Gaston, Brittny Gaston, Brian Gaston, Brandon Gaston, Alicia Senat, Wandline Noel, and Sandra Surin.