Obituary of Margarette Berry

Margarette Berry

          Margarette Berry, aged 61, passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.  Affectionately called “Gagaille” by her loved ones, Margarette was born on July 3, 1955 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to the late Gracia and Marie Renée Berry.  After completing primary school at Ecole Mère Louise at the age of 12, she went on to attend College Saint François D’Assise. When she was fifteen, Margarette fell ill to rheumatic fever. Requiring intensive medical treatment she traveled to New York City, where her parents had already immigrated. Margarette was hospitalized upon her arrival in New York in June 1972, and remained there until September of that year. 

 Once discharged from the hospital, Margarette longed to return home to Haiti. However, due to the fragile state of her health, her parents decided it was best for her to remain in New York. Although it was a struggle to

adjust to her new life in America, she went on to attend Washington Irving High School in Gramercy Park where she worked diligently and excelled in her studies. Despite English not being her native tongue, Margarette graduated at the top of her class.  After high school, she obtained her nursing degree from Misericordia School of Nursing, and began her career working at St. Luke’s Hospital in Harlem. Over the course of her career, Margarette’s nursing experience varied, ranging from caring for HIV/AIDS patients, to pediatric home care, to school nursing and providing medical care to inmates at the Rikers Island Correctional Facility. Despite Rikers’ notorious reputation, she was adored by the staff, her peers, and patients alike. Margarette’s dedication to nursing was an inspiration to many others, including her sisters, who followed in her footsteps, becoming nurses themselves.

 Margarette was an extremely hardworking and independent woman. She purchased her first

home at the age of 27. Despite her heart condition caused by the rheumatic fever she suffered from as a child, Margarette often worked two jobs. Her one goal was to provide the best possible life for her family. Eventually, Margarette’s condition worsened and she underwent her first open heart surgery in 1992. She recovered and returned to work promptly. Among her many achievements, was obtaining her U.S. citizenship in 1995.

 Margarette met her husband Jacques Tony in 1983. Together they had three children whom she loved and adored. Knowing the value of an excellent education, Margarette worked tirelessly to enroll her children in the most prestigious academic institutions- which became the foundation for their future success. Margarette was known for her jovial nature and joie de vivre.  All who knew her spoke of her infectious laugh and her ability to fill the room with humor and joy. She had the memory of an elephant and could recount a story with uncanny

precision. Margarette also loved the arts, as evidenced by the extensive collection of Haitian paintings which adorn her home, and her passion for music, especially the songs of her favorite artist Charles Aznavour. Her many hobbies included avidly reading French novels, shopping, singing, and gardening. Her love of gardening was evident in the curb appeal of her home which often drew spectators and admirers. In addition, Margarette was an excellent cook, often delegated with the task of preparing multiple delectable turkeys every Thanksgiving. However, above all, her favorite pastimes were spending time with friends, family and with her prayer groups.  

 Margarette was a woman of God who loved her Creator. Despite frequent hospitalizations due to congestive heart failure, she never questioned the sovereignty of God. Her unwavering faith was evident with every hospitalization. In 2014, after her second open heart surgery, Margarette's first words upon

awakening were those of praise: “Bon Dieu gueri’m,” which means "God has healed me" in Haitian Creole. She was the definition of a prayer warrior and lived by the words “pray without ceasing." Margarette will be remembered as a loving, caring, sister, and aunt by her family, but most importantly as a devoted, selfless mother. To all, she will be remembered by her kindness, generosity, and love for God and others. 

        She is survived by her husband Jacques Tony, her daughters Farelle Tony and Dr. Sagine Berry-Tony, and her son Fabrice Tony. She leaves behind her younger brothers and sisters Chantal Berry, Patrick Berry, Marjorie Berry, Gregory Berry, and Barbara Berry; her nieces and nephews Harvey, Jaquan, Theodora, Patrice, Christian, Johnathan, Nathalie, and Amaya; her many cousins: Jean-Claude, Myrtha, Mildred, Rev. Carlo Nazaire, Nadege;  her aunts Dieuvela and Dieudonne; the Berry, Bien-Aime, Jean-Poix, Villarson, Nazaire,

Lacombe, St. Cloud, Laguerre, Adisson, Osias, and Delpé families.