Gagaille was born on January 10, 1926, in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti to Léa (Manman Tito) and Constant Jeannot. As the second oldest, Gagaille grew up in a loving family along with her siblings: Antoinette (Nenette), Wilfrid, Camy, Bertrand, Hugh, Magulta (Guiguite), Myrtho (Toto), Mireille (Miche). Gagaille graduated from Ecole Normale d'Instituteurs. After graduation, she was awarded a scholarship to study home economics for a year in Venezuela.
In 1943, Gagaille met Exumé Toussaint; they got married and had five boys together: Guy who died in infancy; then Harry, Vanel, Robert and Stephan. They traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1960s, where they both worked as teachers. After, Gagaille joined her sisters in Chicago, where she lived and worked for over forty years before retiring from Billings Hospital at the University of Chicago.
Everyone who knew Gagaille, was blessed to have in their lives, a loving, compassionate, giving, and strong woman. She was a bon vivant: Gagaille drank, loved good food, and yet lived to the ripe old age of 97. She was always ready to travel and had a very vivacious and curious nature. She was an outstanding cook and her specialty was “pâtés” the Haitian meat patties. Her values and ethics were steadfast, and she strived to live them out each day. She enjoyed being around and talking to her family and friends on the phone. She was always present to give moral support, Gagaille never turned down an invitation, in fact her bags were always packed and ready to go. She traveled a great deal after retiring and was able to travel to all continents except Antarctica.
She was always present at her many nieces and nephews’ milestones to lend her support. She loved to dance, have a great time; and could not be outdrank (her saying was: faites venir – keep it coming). She was always available to give sage advice and enthusiastic encouragement. Gagaille was also generous: giving to many charities in Haiti, Africa, and the U.S.A. In fact, Gagaille never bought a house or bought a car in the United States. Preferring to rent and take public transportation. She was comfortable with her decisions saying: “Il faut economizer dans les petites choses pour avoir les grandes choses – You have to save in the little things to have the big things”. She worked hard, saved, and lived within her means but never deprived herself. Gagaille was a Catholic but was never pushy about her religion. She was eager to go to mass on Sundays but equally comfortable with turning on a televised service if she couldn’t attend in person.
At the end, Gagaille suffered from the effects of Alzheimer’s for the last few years, the disease robbed her of the precious memories of her loved ones. Some call this the long goodbye.
Gagaille is survived by her four sons:
Harry is married to Gysele. He has seven children: Marie-Judith, Mardochée, Vroshé, Sahadia, Michèle, Garry, and Slény-Marie and great-granddaughters Tamika and Ruthnie.
Vanel who is married to Rose Margareth, son Kevin, daughter Vanessa. Kevin is married to Nefertiti have great-grandsons Trevor, Connor and Christopher Toussaint. Robert who is married to Thea and has four children: Angela, Victoria, Alexander and William. Stéphan who is married to Rosette and has four children: Jackie-Ros, Xavier, Chloé, and Stephan II (Phanou).
Gagaille was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and faithful friend who loved generously all who came within her surroundings. She will be missed by her sons, daughters-in-law, sisters, brothers, many nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Gagaille was preceded in death by her son Guy, her father Constant, her husband Exumé, her mother Léa, and brother Hugh.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnsouth.com for the Jeannot Toussaint family.
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