"Elaine Baptiste, 77, departed this earth to assume more heavenly business on Thursday, July 8 at 12:12pm. She was the epitome of the “the Caribbean melting pot”. Born and raised on the island of Antigua till the age of 18; she migrated to St. Croix and married at the age of 19. She moved on to birth 3 children where she poured her love and dedication into them. Clean-ironed clothing mattered to her and she made sure her children represented that value. A home cooked meal was as equally important, and might I tell you, she poured her heart and soul into every dish and delivered it with love. Everyone tells me of their favorite dish she made that they liked; but I will always vouch for the callaloo. No one made a callaloo the way our mom did. Thanksgiving holidays required two turkeys and a ham since people that I don’t even recall showed up for her cooking. Food was a way of building community and this community still calls her name; remembering her warmth, her hugs, her compassion.

Her dedication to God manifested itself in her commitment to service in the church. She sang in the choir, served on the board, led the choir, taught Sunday School, and she mentored the younger women. I recall finding a letter that was sent to her from a young woman that begged of her to become her spiritual mother; pinpointing all of the characteristics about her that stood out as noble. If there was ever a medal for a most faithful woman, Elaine would have won it. The church was our second home as she spent lots of time in it and her 3-children in tow. A time consuming and self-run business did not detract from her heart or willingness to serve or to bless others with the little she had.

Her business acumen would allow her and her husband to eventually embark on their own journey of business ownership which would take them back and forth through the islands of Dominica and St. Croix; chartering planes each week to exchange goods between the islands. Without a college degree she pulled from her resolve and her passion to give her children more than she had. She worked from morning to night. She created systems that created balanceThey achieved! They excelled! They stood strong!

But life came with its fair share of challenges. They were attacked - their business burned to the ground. She lost possessions and freedoms but never stopped believing in the one thing she always felt steadfast and sure about. It was her faith in Christ Jesus that allowed her to continue to sing and play Amazing Grace. It was knowing God that saved her, restored her, kept her - gave her hope in the middle of her every storm.

Yet, where others gave up, her resilient spirit shined through. She made a bold decision to relinquish a life that she had poured her heart and soul into and a marriage that she had been reverently faithful to its every bidding. She committed to learning and embracing a big city (Chicago) and took risks she had never charted before. She went back to school; she engaged in her church and worked to disentangle herself from her pain by embracing the new experiences that brought her joy. Actually, she brought deep joy to others through her service as well.

She would soon learn that we each have a journey to take and hers was a mix of successes and pain; as in her latter years she learned her diagnosis of vascular dementia. As she battled over the years with brain surgery and then to recall the details of her own life; she exuded the depth of her underlying strength. She pushed through in still attempting to cook, care for herself, conduct her own banking and still religiously commit to paying her tithes, even when her memory failed. She amazed us! She fought hard! She loved hard to the very end! She took her last breath in the arms of her daughter, knowing quite well that she was very loved.

She now serves as our angel and leaves to mourn her children, Samuel (Darlene), Allan and Muriel Baptiste and Tristan (Denise), her grandson that she raised. Her estranged husband, Lennard Baptiste. Her brothers, Foster Lynch (Olney) and Arthur Thomas. Her grandchildren; Denise, Sherma, Samuel, Tristan, Leon, Samantha, Zanita, Kendra, Sam, Ausar, Zoe’line. Her nieces and nephews, Lucille, Pauline, Patricia, Edison, Hayden, Eustace, Tracy and Cheryl. She is the loving cousin to Veronica, Jean, Monica, Bert, Verna, Hilear, and many more, of whom there are too many to mention.

Special mention: Michele Diaz for your fervent care. Delia, Leah, Lea, Christian, Angel, Talipha, Fran, Josephine, Cuthbert, Lucille, Justina, and Darlene. Her amazing nurses Basia, Edyta, and Ivana and to Jane Colman for being so amazing with your care and support over the years. And finally, to all those in attendance today for your outpouring of family and communal love and to all those who will take a moment to honor her through text, a call, a card, or through a silent thought or prayer. We love you all!"

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