Marie Margaret Duroseau

Marie Margaret Sanon Fils Duroseau of Irvington, NJ (formerly of Spring Valley, New York), went home to meet her almighty Maker on March 8, 2023. She is survived by her three children (and their spouses): Stephanie Daisy Fils-Noel (Jean Alain Noel), Robert James Galligan III (Sarah Pires Galligan) and Joel Shaheen Galligan, and her five grandchildren: Reagan Madeleine Noel, Rowen Jace Therasse-Galligan, Zachary Ace Noel, River Eve Therasse-Galligan and her bonus grand-daughter Brooklyn Grace Pires. She is also survived by her loving, loyal husband Moises Duroseau. They were deeply in love and married for nearly 25 years up until her passing. She is also survived by her siblings: Marie Evelyne Sanon Fils Surin, Marie Margalie Sanon Fils Princivil, Marthe Shelly Sanon Fils Thompson, and Pierre Emmanuel Sanon Fils. Marie Margaret also shared a beautiful, sacred bond with her best friend of nearly 50 years, Sonia Fraser. She is predeceased by her parents, Fils Sanon and Antoinette Alfred Sanon Fils, her sisters Roseline Sanon Fils Mombrun, Oliguina Sanon Fils, Samuel Sanon Fils and other older siblings. She shared a special bond with her many nieces and nephews.

Margaret, as she was known by her family and close friends, was the daughter of Fils Sanon (later changed to Sanon Fils after immigrating to the United States of America) and Antoinette Alfred Sanon Fils (later changed to Antoinette Fils after immigrating to the United States of America). Margaret was born on April 9, 1959 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She came from a large, spiritual, tight-knit family in the Bizoton, West section of Haiti. Margaret was one of thirteen children. In her early childhood years, while her parents worked diligently to provide for their large family, Margaret was raised by her tremendously loving and generous grandmother, Maceline Destinat, her grandfather, Prosper Alfred, and her older siblings. As a child in Haiti, Margaret loved to climb mango trees to eat the sweetest mangoes. She would accompany her grandmother going door - to- door to help feed and clothe neighbors who lived on their property. Through her grandmother’s kindness and generosity to neighborhood families, Margaret was able to forge her exceptional social personality at an early age. This is where she developed her humble, compassionate spirit and love for others. She was always very strong-willed and determined, but also very soft and light-hearted - especially with her children later in life. Margaret looked up to her elder sisters, and often followed in their footsteps as a child.

In October 1971, Margaret, along with her parents and seven siblings, immigrated to Suffern, New York in pursuit of a better life. She attended Suffern Middle School. Just one year after her family immigrated to New York and shortly after her baby sister, Samuel was born, her father passed away in a tragic car accident. Margaret, her mother, and her seven siblings were left to fend for themselves. They later settled in Spring Valley, New York where they joined a growing and more accepting Haitian-American community. Margaret spent most of her adolescent years, as well as a portion of her adulthood, in Spring Valley, New York. She graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1978, and went on to study nursing at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. Margaret worked as a caregiver at Letchworth Village, Rockland Psychiatric Center and a mentor for young women at Saint Dominic’s Group home for several years. She diligently worked two jobs simultaneously for twenty years to provide for herself and her children. Margaret was a goal-oriented go-getter. She loved to have a great time, and was often the life of the party at family functions. Margaret was vivacious and she loved to dance to all music, but she especially loved Haitian Konpa music. She was an excellent cook, and loved to season her meats to perfection. Margaret had a great sense of humor, with a contagious laugh and smile. She carried an easy going, humble disposition and had the unique ability to disarm and connect with people, whether she only knew them for 1 day or 63 years.

Marie Margaret was born with a faithful spirit devoted to God. She maintained her strong belief in Jesus Christ and the Lord throughout her entire life. She searched and attended various churches and religions, but felt most at home and connected to her spiritual church family at The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints. She served faithfully in the church’s Relief Society, taught English classes to new immigrants, and loved worshipping in the Temple. She loved reading the Book of Mormon and her Holy Bible, and faithfully carried both Holy books with her up until her final days.

We welcome family and friends who would like to pay their final respects to our beloved, courageous, indelible Mother, Wife, Sister, Friend, Aunt Marie Margaret Duroseau.

A viewing will be held on Friday March 17, 2023 at 7:00 pm -9:30 pm. The funeral service will be held on Saturday March 18 at 9:00 am – 10:00 am. Both the Viewing and Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel at the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints – 1600 Springfield Ave Maplewood, NJ 07040. Flowers can be sent to this address.

Mausoleum Entombment will be held directly after the Funeral Service at Hollywood Cemetery – 1500 Stuyvesant Ave Union, NJ 07083. Funeral Services entrusted to the care of Union Funeral Home - Lytwyn & Grillo.

The Repast will begin at 12 pm in the Cultural Hall at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – 1600 Springfield Avenue Maplewood, New Jersey 07040.