Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste

Mrs. Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste, of Windermere, FL transitioned peacefully on Tuesday December 5, 2023 after living a long fruitful life interrupted by Alzheimer’s in her final years. Marie-Louise was born on August 24, 1926 in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, Haiti to Lucia (nee Charles) and Pierre Jean-Baptiste. Her parents instilled in their twelve children a rich sense of faith and compassion. Marie-Louise was only afforded a grade school education before leaving her birth place in search of better opportunities. She first moved to Port-au-Prince to live with her beloved aunt, Eudovia Jean-Baptiste, known to all who loved her as “Tante Dodo.” In Port-au-Prince, Marie-Louise worked as a textile worker at Filature Brandt, until she immigrated to the U.S. on a work visa. She settled in Brooklyn, New York. During one of her first trips back to Haiti, she met Mr. Joseph Tranquille Jean-Jerome. After a brief courtship, they married in Haiti. Together they had one child, Marie-Eva (Eva, nee Jean-Jerome) Desrosiers, MD. Marie-Louise worked as a nanny and housekeeper until her retirement at 75 years old. Much of her work life was spent with the Shorofskys, a doctor, his wife and their children; they became like family to each other. Upon hearing news of her passing, the Shorofskys shared that Marie-Louise gave them "great comfort" and made them "feel good." Her work secured a better life not only for her only child, Eva, but also for her large extended family. Marie-Louise's daughter was her pride and joy; her raison d'être. She set high expectations for her and to keep Eva motivated and focused, Marie-Louise would tell her “I do the dirty work, so that you can do the clean work." One of Marie-Louise’s proudest moments was seeing her daughter graduate from Cornell University, her employer's alma mater. The next was listening to her recite the Hippocratic oath as she embarked on her career as a doctor. She was overjoyed when her daughter married Effel Desrosiers whom she loved as a son, and who was, at times, her favored child. She poured her love and prayers onto her grandsons, Philippe Effel and Christopher Eric Desrosiers, who could do no wrong in her eyes. Eva will share countless wonderful memories of their grandmother with Philippe, Christopher and their future children. Marie-Louise's face at every one of young Eva's events and performances, camera at the ready to capture each moment. Marie-Louise was the kind of mother who brought the turkey to the elementary school Thanksgiving potluck, year after year, and never just the trimmings. She was one who always created space at the Sunday dinner table and room in her modest home for anyone needing a place to perch or simply get a foothold. She wrapped her love, support and presence around those whose lives found them struggling or alone. She was an activist who fought for social justice and an ally of those rejected by society, in real time. She spent Christmas Eve shouting out her support to a group of Haitians in detention so they would know they're not alone. She offered a friend a place to stay so she would die with dignity and love when others in her life feared her illness. Her faith produced tangible good works. Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste leaves in her wake the generational wealth of faith, love and compassion. Her willingness to do "the dirty work" built the road that her daughter and grandchildren have taken to "the clean work." We know that her memory will be a blessing to all who knew and loved her.

Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste

August 24, 1926 - December 5, 2023