Rohnie Rampersaud

Rohnie (81), loving mother of 3, grandmother of 3 and sister of 11, was born in the village of Whim, East Berbice Corentyne, Guyana on June 20, 1943. Rohnie passed away peacefully in her home in Yonkers, New York, the night of Wednesday July 31, 2024. Rohnie lived a wonderful, purposeful life in service of others, she forged a path for a better life for many people, and will always be remembered for it. Her family is blessed and filled with immense pride and love to have shared their lives with this one of a kind, mother, grandmother, sister and wife.

Rohnie was born to a loving family in the village of Whim in Guyana on June 20, 1943 to Pertab and Telkia Persaud. She was the 4th oldest of 12 siblings [7 girls and 5 boys]. Their home was filled with faith, love and pride. Rohnie's parents, and their parents before them were of Indian descent who were part of the diaspora of Indians from the Indian subcontinent to what was then the British West Indies. Rohnie's family were devout Hindus, with several priests and religious leaders in their family. They stressed faith, family and drove ambition in their children. Rohnie's siblings lovingly called her "Sister Kam." Rohnie was the first woman to accomplish many milestones, in her immediate family and in their village. She ran track, excelled in school and ultimately became formally trained as a teacher. Being a teacher allowed Rohnie to obtain a visa to the United States, to continue her education and practice teaching. This began a journey that would ultimately create a path for her siblings and their children to find a better life and success in the United States. Rohnie left for the United States 1968 to a tear-filled but proud family.

Rohnie arrived in New York and lived with a number of other young ambitious Guyanese emigrants in the eastside of midtown Manhattan. She met Ramnarine (Fred) Rampersaud in this group and they were married in March of 1969. They shared the same values growing up in a large family in Guyana, Fred is 1 of 13 children, and he emigrated to the United States for the same reasons, a better life for the children who would be blessed to follow. They both intended to help their remaining siblings in Guyana emigrate to the United States. They moved to the Bronx and ultimately bought 3 houses on the same street over the years, in a wonderful Catholic community of people who like Rohnie and Fred emigrated from different parts of the world for a better life for their children. Throughout the course of the 70s and 80s all of Rohnie's younger siblings came to the United States and lived with Rohnie and Fred, recreating that loving community in Whim, and reuniting siblings to build new lives for themselves and their children to come. The first home was where they all lived for a period of time, and it was effectively the "Ellis Island'' of the Persaud family. Everyone still lovingly calls this “The Big House." Everyone made a life changing stop there, before continuing on to successful, wonderful lives of their own. The house was filled with love, happiness, laughter, and gratitude. They all helped each other find the "American Dream" they were looking for, educating themselves, and each finding new partners to share their lives with in America. Many of Rohnie's younger siblings celebrated their marriages in that house. Today, there are happy, proud, successful cousins living throughout the United States and Canada, many of them are doctors, lawyers, healthcare workers, teachers, financial services leaders - Due in large part to this loving collective family unit, the values they share, and the courage Rohnie had to get on that plane to the United States in 1968.

On April 24, 1971, Dr. Rajendra (Raj) Rampersaud (53), Rohnie and Fred's oldest son, was blessed to be born into this loving community. He was the first cousin born in the United States, and in him he fulfilled the dreams that Rohnie, Fred and every Aunt and Uncle in that house had to create a new life. With Rohnie, Fred and all those Aunts and Uncles’ love and support, Raj went on to become a doctor and touch the lives of countless people in the Westchester New York community. Raj is keeping those values that Rohnie and Fred instilled in him in raising his son Aakash Rampersaud (17) who is Rohnie and Fred's first grandchild. Aakash is opening the next chapter for the Rampersaud family.

On April 24,1977, 6 years to the date Ryan Rampersaud (47) was born, Rohnie and Fred's second son. Now, there were many cousins and all the Aunts and Uncles were thriving in their own rights. Many had made homes for themselves and started their own successful lives in the tri-State area. Rohnie and Fred had not only helped bring their siblings to the United States, but provided them with a blueprint for success: love, hard work, sacrifice, education and home ownership. Ryan has been blessed to find a career in Finance, which has allowed him to live in various parts of the world and meet his wife Rythm. They have two amazing children Ryley Rampersaud (10) and Raniya Rampersaud (8). Raniya's name is a tribute to her grandmother Rohnie, both having a base of the traditional Indian name, Rani, which means Queen. Which could not be more fitting for Rohnie. Ryan and Rythm kept the “RR” naming tradition that was so special to Rohnie.

On December 29, 1981, Randy Rampersaud (43) was born, Rohnie and Fred's third son, completing the Rampersaud family. Randy was born into a large community of loving Aunts, Uncles and cousins in both the Persaud and Rampersaud family. Randy shares a special bond with many of his cousins, as they all grew up in this new generation of "American Cousins" who love and support each other, living the dreams of their parents. Randy is a radiology technician, who has been able to volunteer and travel the world teaching healthcare providers in undeveloped communities how to use advances in radiology equipment, including the hospital system in Guyana, multiple times. Randy is also a professor in New York City, and carries on Rohnie's passion for teaching others.

On the night of Wednesday July 31, 2024 Rohnie Rampersaud, the Queen of her family and the loving force behind the wonderful lives of many, passed away peacefully in her home. Her love, and the sacrifices that she and Fred made, have forever chartered a course for love and success in all the generations to come. To her family, Rohnie was the most selfless, giving person who ever lived. She gave everything she had to see her family be happy and thrive, especially her 3 sons. Words cannot describe how much she will be missed, but she will forever live in our hearts, minds and souls.

We love you Mom - Raj, Ryan and Randy…

We love you Grandma - Aakash, Ryley and Raniya…

We love you Sister Kam - Gangawaite, Lelawatie, Nelawatie, Lochan, Makeram, Dhamatma, Permanand, Rupwatee, Anand, Rejai and Sandra...

Funeral Service will be held at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home on Monday August 5th from 9 - 9:30 AM. Following the funeral service, visiting hours for Rohnie will be held from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Cremation will follow at Ferncliff Crematory, Hartsdale, N.Y. Lunch to follow at Raj's Residence, 78 Vermont Terrace, Yonkers, 10707.