Eileen Babsie/ Sister Margaret Bahadu Colon

Eileen Margaret Colon was born was born to Ivan and Betsy Bahadur on November 17, 1930 on the Island of Trinidad. Eileen grew up during the time of World War II and despite how difficult things were, Eileen and her family prospered. Eileen was a Christian and was fortunate to have Christ in her life as her father’s side of the family of Muslim and her mother’s side Hindu. In 1958 Billy Graham Caribbean tour, and while in attendance at the Trinidad Crusade, Eileen gave her life to the lord and accepted water baptism (in very cold water behind an ice factory) At the tender age of 18, her mother Betsy passed away. This struck a blow to family and Eileen and her father Ivan were left to care for her nine other siblings ranging from the ages of 16 to 9mons. Eileen worked sales at JY Delima and the money she made (5 dollars a week) went to help provide for her family. Due to the passing of her sister, Eileen’s Aunt Dolly and her daughter Vena came to live with Eileen and her father to help rear the children. Dolly said, “Who better to raise my sister’s children than I”. After many years, Dolly and Ivan fell in love got married. The couple had two more children growing the family to 13. In 1958 Eileen became reacquainted with a man named Harry Percy Bahagwandeen. The two had known each other when they were in school but their friendship was cut short when Harry joined the war effort. He enlisted in the Royal British Air Force and fought the Nazis and in France. When Harry returned, he often saw Eileen with two small children and assumed she was married . After a conversation with her father, he found that those were her siblings not her children and that she was not married. The couple courted and fell in love and in 1959 at 29 years old, she was married. The happy couple moved out to the country area in Trinidad and had four children Donna Maria, Don Carlos, Linda Betsy and Elizabeth Joyce. Trinidad gained its independence from Britain in 1962 and times were tough in post war/ post-independence Trinidad. Despite their struggles, Eileen managed to make it with her husband and four children; Eileen said that those times were some of the best and most memorable. The couple wanted a better life for their children and often spoke about moving to America. She was enchanted with the place after walking by a store and seeing a post card exhibiting the wonders of New York City. Harry pulled some strings and Eileen was trained as a domestic and was sent to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to work for the affluent Pannas Family. Before arriving in Philadelphia, she passed through immigration in New York City and finally got her wish. Her children and husband remained in Trinidad and agreed to send every one down slowly by surly. Eileen asked the Mr.Pannas whether there was any work for her husband at his chandelier factory. He said there was and sponsored Harry to come to the USA. The children were left in care with their grandparents, Ivan and Dolly, and the couple was finally reunited. Over next few years, they saved up enough to bring all of their children down from Trinidad to live with them. Unfortunately her plans of living out the American Dream with her husband were cut short when Harry passed away due to the injury of a car accident in 1970. After Harry was laid to rest in Trinidad, Eileen returned home widowed at the age of 40 and would find herself a single mother. Despite her hardships she believed and trusted in God and often more than three times a week attended church and functions at Calvary Assembly of God in Wincote,Pennsylvania. Eileen loved music and loved to sing and while she was there she sang in every choir (except for the men’s choir) that Calvary had. She kept her faith and prayed that God would help her in her time of need. Her prayers were answered when she met a man named Florentino Colon. Florentino was from Puerto Rico and did not know much English; however he did know the language of love and instantly fell head over heels. Due to the language barrier, he ask her the first time they meet to marry him because he said she was so beautiful; she thought he was crazy. They dated and the two were married. Eileen left domestic work and returned to sales working at Learners department store (Now New York and Company). She had a knack fashion and could instantly look at some one and tell them what sized they wore and what looked good on them. The couple purchased a home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and there she worked, raised her family and sent her children to school. As Eileen grew older, she grew tired of the harsh eastern winters on her arthritic muscles and looked to retire somewhere warmer. While on Vacation, she visited her sister Esmee in San Antonio Texas and fell in love with the place, especially the weather (for some reason). In 1985 she moved to Texas with her husband, son and daughter. She continued her work in sales and found a job at the clothing store 50 Off. Her granddaughter Sabrina came to live with her.Tragedy struck once again and her husband Florentino passed away from a heart attack in 1989. Those many years of hard work finally caught up with her body and was forced to go out on disability due to her having veracious veins. A few years later she retired in 1990. She came to Joshua Baptist Church the same year as a guest of her future son in law Warren Sheridan Sr. She joined as a member and due to Eileen’s love for music, joined the choir. To her supreme delight she had the opportunity to sing with the choir and record on the album For Your Glory Lord. She loved to cook and during church picnics would make her famous fried rice that would be gone as soon as it arrived. As she got older, she was no longer able to sing in the choir and had to resign however she found a new job and that was one as a prayer warrior. She would keep a note pad with the names of all of the people who needed prayer for and over the phone with her dear fried Martha Dawson, would pray for all of those in need and would praise the lord in a daily devotion. Even when she was sick and was no longer able to walk, she still prayed fervently for everyone. She was the true example for as long as I have breath I will praise the lord. In-between these years, she was blessed with 10 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. She made many friends and became an adoptive mother and grandmother to many. She is proceeded by her Two mothers, Betsy and Dolly, her father Ivan, her two husbands Harry and Florentino, her brother Deryck (D), Lennox (Madge) )and spouse Sandra, both sister Pearl and brother in-law Steve. She survived by her siblings Vena, Eena, Roy and wife Noemi, Monica and husband Dwariaka, Carmen and Pittyman Joyce and husband Bobby, Esmee and husband Tony, Rodger and wife Anne; by her children Donna Maria Utley and grandchildren Leona and Ashley Thompson, Don Carlos Percy, Linda Betsy Percy Weddington and grandchildren Sabrina, Walther, Joshua, William and Michael,and Elizabeth Joyce Sheridan,grandchildren Jorelle, Tara and Warren. Great grandkids Brielle, ,Braden ,Bayleigh ,Layla ,Tashara ,Laith ,Joshua Jr. and 2 more on the way . By all who know her, she will truly be missed.