- Date Of Death: November 30, 2022
- State: Massachusetts
Marie Rose Eliola Paul Leonard, affectionately known as Sr. Lala, and Mommy Lala by her grandchildren, was born January 26, 1928 in Formond, Torbeck, Cayes to Eliodor & Saintecile Paul. She met her late husband, Eliodas Leonard in school and married him in 1949. She was a creative seamstress often stitching pieces for people in her community, and even made all of her children’s school uniforms each year. She was an incredibly stylish woman who wore a different hat with every single outfit.
She was a generous person and a missionary all around Haiti. She did what she could to support her children and neighbors with whatever she had–she would feed the whole neighborhood if she could. In 1998, she moved to Boston where she studied hard to become a citizen, and succeeded.
Mommy Lala taught us to be kind to others, laugh often, and pray everyday. God was always at the center of Sr Lala’s life and heart. He brought her so much joy. She loved to sing for God and made sure to read her Bible every single day. Her favorite verses were Matthew 4:10 “Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” and Exodus 14:14 “ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
We thank God for giving us almost 95 years with Mommy Lala. She is survived by her 9 children: Evelyn, Jacqueline, Nirva, Rose Martine, Suze, Morone, Jean Reynold, Maryse, and Mario, her younger sister Louisa, 13 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and a myriad of nieces and nephews–too many to count. She will be deeply missed and always remembered.
