Life is unpredictable, fragile, uncertain. One minute everything is going exactly as planned and then….Bang!... Something happens…. Everything crashes… Our world immediately turns upside down. Who could foretell that Winsome would be put to rest today? We know that it is inevitable that one day we will die but we didn’t think Winsome would be gone so soon. If there was no covid 19 she would be here. The coronavirus has robbed us of a precious soul.
In the tranquil and peaceful community of Brampton, Trelawny, Jamaica, on the 4th of April 1963; a bouncing baby girl was born to James and Lilleth Underhill. She was named Winsome Verona Underhill and was the last child of the couple. In time, she began her Early Years Learning at Brampton Early Childhood Institution and later attended Brampton Elementary School. She excelled there and when it time for high school she gained a place at Holmwood Technical High School. After leaving high school she entered Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College where she did Secondary Education and specialized in Home Economics.
After graduating from teachers’ college she taught at Richmond Secondary High School and later at Oracabessa Secondary High School. After seven years in the classroom she decided to quit teaching and migrated to the U.S.A. in 1994. While here she worked firstly as a nanny and later as a caregiver for four different elderly persons. In 2016 after the person whom she cared for died, she came to Hyannis and the rest is history.
She fell in love before she migrated and returned in 1996 to “tie the knot” with Steve her soul-mate. After years of both of them going back and forth to visit each other, Steve joined her. They became an inseparable couple. They worked at the same place and anywhere you see one, the other will be there. The union did not produce any children but they enjoyed their life together.
To know Winsome was to love her. She loved people and extended herself to help anyone who needed her help. She was so caring and kind. Not one to be selfish and keep things for herself. She shared the little that she had to so many who needed her assistance. Her family ties meant everything to her. Although she was the last child, she provided ease and comfort for her parents when they became old. She acted like she was the eldest. There was a time when she single handedly took care of their physical needs. The remarkable thing is that she never complained nor murmured that everything was left on her. She took it a pleasure to do what she had to do for them. Her other siblings can attest to the fact that she was very kind to all of them.
Wherever Winsome worked she gave of her best and worked as unto the LORD. She was never one to shirk her duties. While working as a live-in caregiver, she gave excellent service at all times even though there was no one doing direct supervision.
She didn’t have to know you to flash you one of her “ winsome smiles”. Although she could be considered an introvert, she made friends easily. She had a way to make people feel at ease and comfortable in her presence. Because of her personality she created some lasting friendships and was loyal to those who were her friends.
We cannot bypass mentioning Winsome’s exceptional culinary skills. It was in the kitchen that her creative genius was displayed. Those of us who have partaken of her gourmet dishes, can testify that she was indeed a chef par excellence. Added to producing gourmet dishes, she also baked some mouth- watering pastry items which were just “off the chain.” With time on her hands on a Sunday, she would prepare several dishes. Her dinner table was reminiscent of attending a feast. Yes, Winnie came alive in the kitchen and could stand up under pressure. She often spoke of returning to Jamaica to open her own restaurant and providing dishes to delight the palate. Sadly she did not live to see that dream become a reality.
Winsome did not have children of her own but she loved her nieces and nephews as if they were hers. They in turn loved her because she was such a gem who was caring and compassionate. Her one sister and two brothers, nieces and nephews adored her. Friends and relatives speak so highly of her. She was one of a kind, rare, and so special. We are going to miss our beloved Winnie. No one can ever take her place.
She leaves to mourn husband Steve, sister Ambrozine, brothers William and Shirley, scores of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, brothers and sisters in-law, co-workers and other acquaintances.
One writer penned the following lines:
Life is but a stopping place, a pause in what’s to be.
A resting place along the road, to sweet eternity
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn something but never meant to stay.
Our destination is a place and it’s far greater than we know.
For some the journey’s slow
And when the journey finally ends
We’ll claim a great reward
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the Lord’
When He returns to gather His own.
In Jamaican parlance we would like to say: “Walk good Winnie. T ill we meet again.”
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