Agnes D. Baptiste

Waltham - Mrs. Agnes Denise Baptiste, age 82, passed on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at the Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitaion Center. Agnes, better known as Dede, spent her final days surrounded by family and friends that she had touched in some way throughout her memorable life.

Dede was born December 22, 1927, in Petion-Ville, Haiti, to Gedeon and Victoire Parent. She met and married her husband, Eugene Baptiste in 1948. She gave birth to one son and three daughters, who she sent to the United States for a better life. Dede, herself, entered the United States in the summer of 1980 and resided in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts with her younger sister, Pierna, before settling in Waltham, Massachusetts.

A devoted mother and grand-mother, Dede lived for her family. She looked after her grandchildren while her own went to work. Her love of family was beat only by her absolute genuine faith in her great Lord above. Many have Dede to thank as she brought countless people to the U.S. from her native country of Haiti.

Her interests included family, church going, praying, music, dancing, and most of all laughing. All those who were touched by Dede understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quality of time in which one lives. Her positive outlook brought so much joy to so many. She gave us all such courage and hope and reminded us of the preciousness of life.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Herbert and Annie Baptiste, Denise and Frantz Desire, Michaelle Baptiste, and Evelyne Baptiste and Pierre Antoine; her grand-children, Claudel Baptiste, Jeffrey Abellard, Melissa Baptiste, Kirby Baptiste, Patricia Antoine, Vanessa Abellard, Jerry Baptiste, Belinda Antoine, and Patrick Antoine; her great grand-children, Bryanna Hyppolite and Jayden Hyppolite; her brothers, Montas Parent and Gerard Parent; her sisters, Pierna Pierre-Louis and Marie Rose Cazeau ; many nieces and nephews, Ernest Parent, Josette Porcena, Jude Pierre-Louis, Yves Pierre-Louis, Ginette Jeune, Marie Flore Pericles, Alberte Daniel, Florence Souffrant, Rosemay Calice, Jacques Parent, Ralph Parent, Renee Bigaud-Young, Sandra Andre, Maryse Parent, Rachelle Parent, Alex Parent, Yves Cazeau, Alex Cazeau, Surette Felix, Philippe Parent, Caleb Dubois, Ti Will Parent, Patrick Deroses, Gabrielle Deroses, Gerald Parent, Jose Parent, George Parent, Jean Claude Parent, Jean Bernard Parent, and Harry Parent; in-laws, Marienne Parent, Anne Marie Parent, Marie Theresa, Pierre Baptiste.

She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene Baptiste; her parents, Gedeon Parent, and Victoire Parent; her siblings, Joseph Parent, Pierre Parent, Michel Parent, Antoinette Parent, Andre Parent, Carmel Dubois, and Antoine Parent.

Family and friends will honor and remember Dede’s life by gathering for calling hours in the New Covenant Church of Cambridge, 527 Main Street, Waltham, on Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning when her funeral service will be celebrated. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, 203 Prospect Street, Waltham.

A special thanks to the staff at Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for their care and support.