OBITUARY
- Joseph Jacques Kébreau has made the eternal voyage
The Kébreau family is heartbroken to announce the death of their beloved patriarch Joseph Jacques Kébreau, a great devoted father and grandfather, a great leader, whose human characteristics were very comforting.
Patriarch Joseph Jacques Kébreau left this world on September 19, 2023, at 7:16 am, at Down State Medical Hospital, in Brooklyn NY, at the age of 87. He died of natural causes.
Papi Kébreau, as he was affectionately called, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on February 6, 1936, the offspring of Ludovic Kébreau and Desgrace Desrosier.
Young Kébreau completed his primary, secondary and college education in Port-au-Prince. But the avid reader he was, throughout his life, he kept enhancing his knowledge. Indeed, he was always on a quest to learn more.
For most of his life, Joseph Jacques Kébreau was a government official. Among his first duties, he became the administrator of the Chancerelles Hospital in Port -au-Prince. Later, he was named Chief of personnel of the Centrale Autonome Métropolitaine d’Eau (CAMEP), the government agency responsible for potable water distribution. He also held the post of Administrator and Director of Public Relations, before emigrating, in 1996, to the United States.
In Port-au-Prince, he married Marie Olivia, née Moïse, in 1964. In 2003, she preceded him to their eternal home. From their union of 42 years, six children were born, with the fifth one preceding them in death.
He was a devoted Catholic parishioner, who died in the mighty arm of the Lord. During his earthly life, he was often called to serve communion in the absence of the parish priest, a rare practice in the Catholic Church.
He is survived by his children: Pastor Adlerette C. Kébreau, Protestant Minister Jasmine E. Kébreau, Alana Kébreau, Stéphane E. Kébreau and Alexandra C. Kebreau; by his grandchildren: Aglaelle S. Nicolas, Emmanuel H. Nicolas, Jeremiah Latortue, Emmanuella A. Latortue, Ralph Kébreau, Christie Leisha Kébreau; and by his great grandchild Chase H. Francis Kébreau Nicolas.
He will be remembered for his great sense of humor and his laughter. A great talker, he also was also known for his boundless generosity and kindness. His humbleness didn’t diminish his elegance of a man of great integrity, resilience, courage, and wisdom.
After a long and happy life with his children in the U.S., Patriarch Joseph Jacques Kebreau will be sorely missed. We dedicate to his memory the words of this song: “When Peace, like a river attendeth my way/When sorrow, like a sea billows roll/ Whatever my lot, The Lord has taught me to say: It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
A celebration of his homegoing
There will be a viewing at the Andrew Torregrossa Funeral Home, in Brooklyn, 2265, Flatbush Avenue, this Friday, October 6, from 4 to 8:00 pm. And the funeral service will be held at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 1123 Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn, at 9 am on Saturday October 7. He will be laid to rest at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Long Island, N.Y.
For further details about his life or to pay a tribute to him, kindly visit
https://www.torregrossafuneralhome.com/memorials/joseph-kebreau/5277520/index.php
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- JJ Kébreau
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- P.7
cet article est publié par l’hebdomadaire Haïti-Observateur, VOL. LIII, No. Édition spéciale Canada du 4 octobre 2023, et se trouve en P.7 à : specialho4octobre2023P7