Wilson Merisier

My father Wilson Mérisier was born and raised in Lascahobas, Haiti.  His mother and father were Uzélie Raphaël and Siméon Mérisier.  He was raised where the Raphaël family had several branches but all connected to one another:  Raphaël-Clesca and others, all lived together not as cousins but as brothers and sisters.  He went to school in Lascahobas and later joined the military academy in Belladère.  After a few years, he and his mother moved to Port-au-Prince where he was stationed in Quartier Général later to the “Palais National” what we call here, the White House.

My father met my mother Marie Claude Valéry and had me, but this relationship did not last.  Later, my father met my stepmother, Elgathe Chérie, and married her with whom he had two daughters, Dr. Carine Mildred Mérisier and Emmanuelle Sandra Mérisier.  Between 1980 and 1981, my father had retired from the military.  In 1989 after the passing of his mother, Uzélie Raphaël, my father had traveled to the United States and resided in New York.  Later, my father became a citizen of the United States.  I remembered that day when I took him for the swearing.  He was happy.  He was proud to be an American citizen.

My father, my stepmother, and my two sisters at some point were separated; they did not keep in touch, but my father loved his family.  He loved his children, all three of us, his two grandchildren, my daughters:  Elizabeth Ruiz and Shalimar Ruiz, and his son-in-law, Antonio Ruiz.  My father was not a perfect man.  Only one is perfect, it’s JESUS.  My father made mistakes because he was human.  My father had strengths and weaknesses like everybody else, but when you got to know him, you would describe him as a man of a pure heart.  He cared for people.  He did not have to know you to help you.  He was quick to assist with the needs of others.  He was friendly with everyone no matter what their status was.  My father was very funny.  You would not be with him not to laugh.  He would find a way to make your day.  He was fun to be with.  He was a man of great character.  He enjoyed the company of Bêbêthe and Shalie, his grandchildren.  He loved them and they loved Grandpa.

My father liked music.  He played a couple of instruments such as piano and flute.  He used to have a keyboard; he would spend hours playing Church songs.  My father was a Christian.  He enjoyed praying and singing to the Lord.  He had a beautiful voice.  He loved God.  He was a man of prayer.  He was my prayer partner for many years.  He was a prayer warrior.  He was quick to witness, telling others about Jesus, and encouraging people to serve God.  He would say “Hold on to Jesus, don’t let go of Him.”  He was always in prayer even when we finished praying.  He would pray for everyone visiting him.  He was a man of imagination.  He had many stories.  He would read his Bible daily when his vision was ok.

For many years my father was taken care of by two great home health Aides:  Mss. Irma and Ms. Yolette who became our extended family.  They were caring for my father twelve hours a day seven days a week.  I started the process for my father to have twelve hours nights as well, but he had to be taken to the hospital.  I was getting many calls from Down State Hospital to give me updates. The prognosis was not good at all.  My oldest daughter who is a RN Supervisor was with him at his arrival to make sure that he was well cared for.  I arrived from Texas on Saturday, April 13th, and I went straight to the hospital to see him.  He was already intubated and induced coma.  I spoke to him and prayed over him.  I sang praises to the Lord.  I reassured him that I loved him, his grandchildren loved him, his son-in-law loved him, and everyone who went to see him loved him.  Even though he was in an induced coma, I know that he heard my voice.  He knew that I was there.  He became very agitated that he had to be sedated.

On Monday, April 15th, the hospital called me and Liz to tell us that my father had expired at 5:29 am.  My father had a history of a combination of factors resulting in his death.  On behalf of our families, Mérisier and Ruiz, I say a big thank you to everyone here in this room and those watching through YouTube celebrating the life of my father Wilson Mérisier with us.  Thank you for all your support!  May Father God continue to bless you.  Shalom!

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