"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..." 2 Timothy 4:7
For over 20 years Marie (TiCame) suffered with heart palpitations and endured the many issues that accompany irregularities of the heartbeat. Eventually her heart would be the contributing factor for her leaving the world entirely too soon. Ironically, her heart was also the reason why Marie is beloved and immensely missed as she is. Her heart was a generous one, a forgiving one, a one of a kind one; that seemed to beat to the best rhythm when around her grandchildren…all five of them.
After being a caregiver to everyone for seemingly her entire life, Marie decided it was the time to make her lifelong dreams a reality. In the end, Marie knew what she wanted, and she did not let anyone, or anything stop her from reaching her goals; not even death. Marie went from barely breathing and intubated in the intensive care unit, to closing on a condominium and moving herself in less than two weeks' time. In typical Marie form, "fashionably late;" Marie looked death in the face and made it wait until she was where she wanted to be. Marie was not a physically strong woman however her determination, her will and fortitude led her to accomplish everything that she had set out to do. Trust and believe Marie was pressured to give up on her dreams over the years. Marie was finally putting herself, her wants, and her needs first, for the first time in probably forever. At the end of it all; her bravery, perseverance, and covertness are what makes her the "G.O.A.T," the greatest of all time.
Surrounded by two of her granddaughters in Coconut Creek, on June 30, 2022, Marie Carmel Prepetit, 71 lost the decade's long battle with her heart. In the words of her daughter, "Marie is now in Valhalla," as a great warrior, a legend, an unsung hero in this process called life.
Marie Carmel Emmanuel was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on June 05, 1951. She was the only child of Anita Emmanuel and Daniel Dimitri Charles. At the tender age of 16, Marie experienced the loss of her mother and was left an orphan. While Marie had no siblings; her two cousins Ernest (predeceased) and Marlene Emmanuel were like a brother and a sister to her. With the great efforts of her aunt Philomena Emmanuel, "Azoue" (predeceased) and her cousin Wiener Longchamp, Marie was able to migrate to the United States. Within a year she met and married her husband of 51 years, Serge Yves Prepetit (predeceased) in Brooklyn, New York. From that marriage our mother inherited 3 brothers and 5 sisters.
Marie was 19 years old when she gave birth to her first son Ralph (predeceased). When a child loses a parent, they are called an orphan, when a wife loses a husband she is called a widow. There are no words for a parent who loses a child. The untimely death of her first-born child Ralph Carman Prepetit in 2018 was a traumatic event that up until her death' she struggled with. For the sake of everyone else Marie continued to be the rock of her family. Marie had once mentioned that Ralph and her essentially grew up together. While her husband was the disciplinarian of the household; up until the day she passed, Marie was always the protector of her children and grandchildren alike. She was the "peacemaker." There were no limits to the lengths she would go through just to keep the peace.
In total, Marie gave birth to four sons: Ralph, Sidney (Nino), Serge Jr., and Stephen (TiSweet). After all of those boys Marie always wanted to have a little girl and with her fifth and final pregnancy, she had her only daughter Melissa (Tisa). While living on Long Island, New York Marie set the highest example to her children of what it meant to have work ethic. Marie worked two to sometimes three jobs at a time; to be able to provide for her children, as well as support her Marshalls, Ross and TJ Maxx shopping trips. Marie did not smoke and rarely if ever did she drink. She had her own ways of finding enjoyment out of life. "Joie de vivre!" To Marie, there was no such thing as too many quilts, pots, or one-piece jumpsuits.
Marie became a United States Citizen in 1984, a Certified Phlebotomy Technician in 1995 and in 1996 received a Survivor Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs in recognition of her dedication in providing care for Northport's patients during the furlough of '96. She was a survivor indeed.
Every year Marie would host Thanksgiving Dinner at her home, and everyone was welcome. She would always say "It's good to share your food with everyone because it is going to end up in the waste anyways." That was the thing about Marie, she always had an old adage to impart that would make you look at life from a different perspective. She was well known for her in depth dreams.
After 32 years of service; in 2017 Marie retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Marie was able to spend the remaining years of her life caring for her youngest granddaughter Alexis (LaLex). One could always hear Marie refer to her as her "little companion."
While utterly devastated by the tremendous loss of their matriarch; her family is comforted by the fact that she is no longer suffering with pain and grief.
Marie is survived by her remaining children: Sidney (Roseanne), Serge Jr. (Mara), Stephen, and Melissa (Paul), along with her grandchildren: Liam Luke, Naomi Marie, Regan Leia, Carmine Jude and Alexis Julienne.
Marie will be remembered by all as a "one of a kind super mom, grandma, cousin, aunt, friend, co-worker and more."
The memorial service for Marie will be held on Saturday July 16 th , 2022 at DeGusipe Funeral Home, 9001 Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751. Reception immediately to follow.