Fernande Colin

Fernande Colin, 88 years old, passed away peacefully on October 2nd, 2023 of natural causes at Laurel Park Nursing Home. She was born on May 17th, 1935. She grew up in Leogane, and was sent to the city where she met her husband Charlemagne Colin. They had one son together, Mario Colin who preceded in death at an early age followed by her beloved husband.

She had no grandchildren due to her son passing so early. Back in Haiti, she owned her own bakery, managed by herself and her husband. She was loved by all her siblings. Her 2 older brothers, Gerard Coles, Andre Charleston and her other sister Ethide Lucien who preceded in death and her living 2 older sisters, Odette Coles Audain 98 years old and Eugenie Coles Victor, 93 years old. She was a woman of faith. She loved going to church and serving her community. That did not change when she came to the states. She worked as an Home Health Aids caring for adults and children in New York. After the passing of her husband there, she moved to Palm Coast Florida and lost contact with us. One day, I received a call from an unknown stranger who told me that my aunt was living alone and suggested that I would come for her. My husband and I went to get her and brought her home in 2009. A few months went by, and she told me that “ grand moune pa rete kaille grand moune” and I needed to find her own place. She was very independent and very strong minded. I had to find her a place where she moved in December 2009. She suffered a stroke in November 2013, was hospitalized in Southern Regional for therapy and was transferred to Laurel Park for rehabilitation and lived there ever since.

Everyone who knew Tante Fernande, knew how much she loved to cook. She was famous for her baked macaroni and cheese and fried fish. On some Fridays, she would cook for me and tell me not to tell my sister Carline because she did not save any for her. The following weekend would be Carline’s turn and I was not to be notified. I was very smart and I would do pop up visits every Friday so I could get some of Carline’s food. My mom would be upset because we loved Tante Fernande’s macaroni the best. My mom who lived with me at that time would stop cooking for me and would tell me to go to my aunt and have her cook for me. She loved going shopping and would disappear when she got to the store. When found, she

would already be at the register with a full cart. I would make her return some of the stuff and she did not like that. She would complain about me at her church and they provided her with a Haitian cab driver who would pick her up so she could buy whatever she wanted. I never wanted her to color her hair because her silver hair was just beautiful but she wanted to color her hair. One day, I went to see her and her hair was reddish/yellow. I was shocked, and that’s when she told me about her private driver taking her shopping behind my back.

Fernande was loved by all, nephews and nieces, brothers, sisters and all of her church family. Fernande had a very strong faith and went home to rest pain-free and in peace. She firmly believed that when you live in the hearts of those you love, you are forever a part of this world, connected by love to the other side where peace, beauty and love reign forever.

A visitation of family and friends for Fernande will be held Friday, October 13, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Horis A. Ward - Fairview Chapel, 376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281, followed by a celebration of life at 10:00 AM.

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