Yolande Medelus Jean-Pierre

Yolande Medelus Jean-Pierre was born on June 3, 1963 in Sarrazins/Mirebalais, Haiti to Marie E. Etienne and the late Carmeleau Medelus. She was the eldest of five children. She attended vocational school where she studied Patisserie, Cosmetology, and Designing.

Eventually, Yolande moved to America, settling in Irvington, New Jersey. As a young immigrant, she was determined to make a new life for herself. She took on various jobs to support her dream of becoming a nurse. Her first step towards this goal was obtaining her GED. Yolande met her husband, Lelien Jean-Pierre, in the summer of 1985. They were married the following year and together they had three children.

Yolande balanced her two loves: raising her children during the day and attending nursing school at night. It was a long process, with many sleepless nights, but she eventually fulfilled her goal, graduating in 1995. This was not a surprise as Yolande, like her husband, firmly believed in the power of education.

Over her 25-year career as a nurse, she worked for various healthcare providers in several specialties, diversifying her experience and helping countless patients. Whether it was serving as an ICU nurse or school nurse, she was known to her co-workers as a devoted healthcare professional.

Even with all her knowledge and experience, she still desired further education. She was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the national honor society for nursing, and completed her Master’s at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. This wasn’t the limit of Yolande’s contributions to the medical field as she also served as an adjunct clinical nursing instructor.

During her time as an educator, she imparted her clinical experience to her students. She inspired them to become great clinicians in the same field she was passionate about. She was kind and thoughtful, ensuring they understood complex concepts, to their immense gratitude.

She retired in 2020 from her extensive nursing career.

Throughout her life, Yolande represented her faith in God and her job as a caretaker. Whether it was her family, a neighbor, a friend, or a co-worker, she gave her whole heart to whoever was in need. She enjoyed many hobbies such as gardening, exercising, reading, and dancing to artists like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.

Yolande passed away on March 21, 2024. She was full of love and defined by love. She was strong-willed, compassionate, and devoted to her faith and her family. She will be dearly missed.

Yolande Jean-Pierre is preceded in death by her father, her brother Nazaire, and her husband Lelien.

She is survived by her children: Lansburg Jean-Pierre, Lanszie Jean-Pierre, and Lanscy Jean-Pierre; her mother Marie Medelus, her siblings Yolette Saint-Louis, Carmil Medulus, and Claude Medulus; her many nieces and nephews; and countless other family and friends.