Marie Carmel Antoine

Marie Carmel ANTOINE known by those closest and dearest to her as Man Cam or Mante Cam was born in Lascahobas, Centre, Haiti on March 27, 1945 and spent most of her life there. Her parents were Cicélie JOSEPH and Dieujuste ANTOINE. Her father died before she was born while working in a well in Dominican Republic, so she was mostly raised by her mom and mainly her grandmother. She completed her primary studies at École DES Filles in Lascahobas.

She met husband Géssner BENOIT in the same town and married him at 19 years old and with him, God gave her nine children one of which died as a toddler. Her eight children left were Bernadette, Withnique, Yonèl, Roseleine, Rose Marie/Sr. Willem, Immaculée, Joèl and Yves Benoit. At around 40 years of age, she separated from her husband and became a single mother of eight. She had some relief when her son Withnique left school and stepped up to become a father figure for his siblings. He took all the responsibility in the house that a father would have taken. Unfortunately, tragedy had struck the family in 2008, and they had lost this father figure, most kind, hardworking and caring, and since then, Man Cam had never been the same.

Man Cam was an extremely hardworking woman, she was full of life, strength, courage, love and generosity. She didn’t have much, but she valued everything that God gave her. She made a living for her children by selling seasonal products at different markets within Lascahobas and around it and by cultivating different kinds of foods. She also became a seamstress making her children’s uniforms and other children’s school uniforms around the town. She worked day and night tirelessly to maintain the stability of her home. She was very well known, respected and loved in her town because she had a great reputation and kept her dignity.

In her later ages, after the loss of her son, she received most of her care from two of her daughters,Rose Marie and Immaculée Benoit. Rose was able to bring her to the Unites States, Orlando Florida where she got to rest from all her hard days, breathe some new air and experience some new things. Unfortunately, Man Cam was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2023 which devastated our whole family. After five months of unimaginable suffering, she left us on April 5, 2024. She was very dear to all of us her family, her adopted children and the children who adopted her as a mother. She leaves a huge whole in our lives, and her absence is deeply felt. She may leave us physically, but she will live forever in our hearts and in our thoughts until we meet again someday in heaven.

Laviw te dificil ase manman, mwen swetew jwenn lapè nan lanmow!

Nap priye pou Bondye louvre pot li gran pou ou paskew te fè anpil bon zèv sou tè a e pou li voye zanj liyo vin pranw pou mennenw lakay ou