Gemma Maria Bernadette Ali Douglas, age 80, passed away peacefully on 7/27/24 at 6:13pm in West Islip.

Loving wife of the late William (Bill) Douglas. Beloved mother Colin and Troy. Cherished daughter of the late Samad and Jessieran Ali. Sister of Lystra, Kelvin, and Mervyn, and preceded in death by siblings Sherry, Enrique, Kenneth, and Noel. Sister-in-law to Brenda, Lucille, Kathleen, John, and Linda. Treasured aunt to her nieces and nephews Kathy, Karen, Sean, Adrian, Serena, Dominic, Nicole, Renee, and Jason. Loved by her great nieces and nephews Whitney, Jordan, Rishi, Karina, Keran, Kiana, Sienna, Anneliese, and Jalen. Step-mother to Matthew and Amanda. Dear friend of the Nurse family and Kathleen Pedro.

Gemma Maria Bernadette Ali Douglas was born on June 15, 1944, at 34 Third Street, Barataria, Trinidad. She attended Barataria E.C. until the age of 11, then went to St. Joseph’s Convent. She ultimately decided to pursue a career in Office Administration and attended secretarial school. Upon graduation, she landed her dream job in Trinidad at T&T Telephone Company where she spent many years.

Gemma migrated to the United States in 1978 and began working for Porta Systems. In 1982 she married Bill Douglas, an educator, and settled on Long Island in Deer Park, NY, where they raised their sons, Colin and Troy. Bill and Gemma were both heavily active in their community and school systems and Gemma was a true advocate for access to education and learning through her time with the PTA in Deer Park. Following Bill’s passing, Gemma remained in Deer Park, living out the rest of her years in the community that she loved.

Gemma was a loving mother, sister, aunt, and a proud Trinidadian-American. She loved the color purple, often present in her clothes, nail designs and sometimes her hair. Even her favorite car, a Mini Cooper, was purple. All those who knew her will remember her strength, compassion, persistence, and humor. She will be greatly missed.

Services will be private with a celebration of life to be planned at a later date. In remembrance of Gemma’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children.

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