Valentine Cassagnol

Valentine Marie Therese Cassagnol, (Fifie) age 99 of Oviedo, Florida, passed away peacefully in her home on April 1, 2021. Valentine was born on August 8, 1921 in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, the daughter of Philippe Charlier and Valentine Durocher. She is predeceased by her daughter, Mireille Cassagnol, and survived by her husband of 77 years, Raymond Cassagnol; daughter Dominique (Sal) Ballacchino and; sons Jose (Jocelyne) Cassagnol, Claude (Kathleen) Cassagnol and Raymond (Maude) Cassagnol; 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. In her early life she played a very important role in founding the girl scouts in Haiti, known as 'Guides". To this day, she is remembered every year at their banquet for the great contributions she made to the Haitian girl scouts. She enjoyed volunteering at the local children’s hospital in Haiti as well as at the first sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. She eventually married Raymond on December 23, 1943 at “Paroisse du Sacre Coeur” – Parish of the Sacred Heart – the same church where they were both baptized! They were married for 77 years!! Fifie devoted her life to caring for her family and for those less fortunate than her. She was beloved by all whom she encountered. Fifie emigrated to the USA with her husband and children when she was 41 years old. They escaped with their 5 children in the middle of the night via foot and donkey to the Dominican Republic and left everything behind. They were political refugees as her husband was involved in the Haitian Revolution of which she was a "silent" supporter. She worked as a seamstress and later studied bookkeeping. When Raymond opened a Bakery in St. Croix, she jumped right in and became a master at baking and decorating cakes. Fifie and her family were faithful parishioners at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for many years. She had strong faith and believed in the Holy Eucharist, that it is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. She brought communion to the elderly in nursing homes and helped feed the homeless in Orlando. She was part of the King of Kings Charismatic Prayer Group for many years. Fifie loved singing and praising the Lord! Valentine was a faithful servant who trusted in God's plan for her life and the lives of her family. She was loving, courageous, affectionate, and showed much forbearance in her lifetime. Her family invites you to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Inurnment will follow immediately after the Mass at Chapel Hill Cemetery. The Mass will be Live Streamed via Dominique Ballacchino's Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Little Sisters of the Poor of Mobile, Alabama, a ministry to the elderly poor. We chose the Mobile house because Fifie went there often when living in Mobile, Alabama. She loved the interaction with the elderly as well as with the beautiful sisters. Select the DONATE NOW button and follow the prompts for a gift in memory of a deceased person. https://www.littlesistersofthepoormobile.org/ The family of Valentine Cassagnol invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in her loving memory.

Valentine Cassagnol

August 8, 1921 - April 1, 2021