Praxelia Ursule Poliard

> Praxélia Ursule Poliard (née Simon), known to many as Zélia, Madame Fortunat, and Manman, passed away at 102 years old in her longtime home of Brooklyn, NY on Monday, May 9, 2022. > > She was born on February 16, 1920 in Port-de-Paix, Haiti to Éliodore Simon and Unélie Simon (née Pierre). She was married to Michael Fortunat Poliard. While she only completed her primary education through the 3rd grade, she was one of the wisest and most knowledgeable women that her community, congregation, family and friends knew. She ran her own mercantile shop and was one of the first sites to sell Coca Cola in Haiti, she cared for all of her grandchildren, loved traveling back and forth to Haiti, and was known to be a spirited storyteller, wonderful cook, caregiver and counselor. She immigrated to Brooklyn, NY, from Haiti in December 1964 with her husband and two of her three children. > > She was predeceased in death by her husband of 52 years, Michael Fortunat Poliard, her son George Eric Poliard, her parents, and Praxélia was predeceased by her siblings Louis, Azema, Borelle, Romula and Manès and brother-in-law Jean-Baptiste Poliard. > > She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her two daughters, Paulette Isabella Brutus, Beulah Ginette Camille (both née Poliard), 9 grandchildren Mary Gomes (née Brutus), Sterne Camille, Nancy Burt (née Brutus), Rodney Poliard, Kypps Poliard, Sheila Ramsue (née Camille), Joyce Shepherd (née Poliard), Nathalie Camille-Noble, and James Brutus. 20 great-grandchildren, Alexandria Cooley (née Gomes), Kisha Camille, Rodney Poliard, Jr., Joshua Burt, Jared Burt, Jade Hassell (née Burt), Jordan Burt, Jordan Poliard, Nathaniel Poliard, Jedidiah Burt, Jaden Camille, Samantha Poliard, Jaaziah Burt, Lena Noble, Jonathan Noble, Jeuel Burt, Jorai Burt, Jeremiah Shepherd, Erick Poliard, and Anastasia Poliard. 20 great-great grandchildren, Addison, Jada, Amani, Starr, Zhiel, Hayati, Adrien, Serge, D’ivionne, Rohan, Soulee, Lily, Rylan, Elijah, Autumn, Walter, Stella, Emerson, Aymes, Elora. She was also dearly loved by her doting nieces and nephews, Yves-Rose Morency, Henry Poliard, Rita Poliard, great-niece Rose Darleyne France, Kentz Regnier, and Phillip and Amanda France, Henry Jude and a host of other relatives, including her many in-laws. > > She was a beloved member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for over 40 years at the Carroll French Congregation and 2 years at the Kingston Kreyol Congregation. She will be dearly missed by her family, JW Brothers & Sisters and longtime friends.

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