The Hassell, Habtes, Armstrong, Webb, Forde and Monsanto families announce the passing of our beloved Esonia Rehenia Monsanto Hassell on Oct. 21 at the age of 95 on St. Thomas, USVI.
A devout and active Roman Catholic, Esonia volunteered in the Church Office of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, assisting where needed. From 2004 until 2014, she worked on the Church Restoration Committee, assuming responsibility for all outreach communications and donations. Esonia was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and served as vice-regent from 2009 to 2014. She also served as a member of the Women’s Magnificat Ministry and served for 8 years as the treasurer.
In 2014, Esonia was one of two recipients of the sixth annual Key and Sword Award, wherein members of the Catholic Community were recognized for extraordinary commitment and selfless dedication in service to others. Every Sunday, until hurricanes Irma and Maria when she temporarily relocated to Georgia, Esonia attended 10:30 a.m. mass with her granddaughter Jerae, sitting devoutly in front of Mother Mary.
Professionally, Esonia worked with the late Jane E. Tuitt, former commissioner of education, as her executive secretary and with the late Earle B. Ottley, former president of the Legislature of the USVI. It was Earle B. Ottley who asked her to develop and design a new educational arm — the Virgin Islands Board of Education — which she built from the ground up. She then became the longest serving executive director, retiring after 32 years of service.
Esonia was preceded in death by her husband, Louis A. Hassell.
She is survived by her children: Dr. Lois A. Hassell-Habtes, Louise A. Hassell-Armstrong, Lorayne A. Hassell-Webb, Laura Anne Hassell, Dr. Lisa A. Hassell-Forde, Louis A. Hassell II and Major General Renaldo Rivera; sister, Norma O. Walters; sons-in-law: Dr. Yegin Habtes and Jean A. Forde; daughters-in-law: Florine Hassell and Diane Rivera; sisters-in-law: Rita Watson, Mary Monsanto and Alda Monsanto; brothers-in-law: Rawle Watson Sr. and Ezechiel Walters; and nieces: Trevore Monsanto, Stephanie Hernaiz, Sheila Monsanto, Janet Monsanto-Hanna, Anna Malone, Marsha Malone, Monic Malone-Doyling, Rose Monsanto, Stephanie Smith, Hazel Roper, Beverly and Joycelyn Roper.
She is also survived by nephews: Glen Roper, Anselmo Roper, Stephen Monsanto, Edwin Monsanto, John Monsanto, Boyd Monsanto, James Monsanto, Shelton Smith, Rawle Watson Jr., Ray Watson, Ronald Watson, Reynaldo Watson, Ryan Watson and Radley Watson; and grandchildren: Shanese Armstrong, Julius E. Armstrong II (Shanell), Schantel Armstrong, Dr. Sennai Habtes, Dr. Imnett Habtes-Wilkerson (Demond), Stephen Webb II, Esonia Webb, Jerae Allyson Forde, Jean A. Forde II, Nicolette Hassell, Louis A. Hassell III, Krystal Rivera, Chantal Rivera-Brown, Khion Rivera and Lanique Rivera.
Other survivors include great- grandchildren: Anaya and Kyla Mark, Sarai, Jai and Julius Armstrong III, Jhauna and James Westbrook III, Dallas and Dominique Cash, Zenn, Bryce and Cruz Wilkerson, Luca Abreu, Simaya and Raiya McDougal, Giovani and Kaelin Browne, and Lenaiya Rivera; cousins: Neomie Monsanto, Shirley Monsanto, Beverly Monsanto and Beverly Plaskett; adopted daughter, Erma Skelton; adopted sons: Bishop Jerome Feudjio and Father Louis Kemayou; adopted grandchildren: Amunet McDonald, Shamari, Sharifa and Charaine Skelton; and very special caretakers: Daina Bellot-Raphael, Daren Mark, Matthew A. Nelthropp, Laurel Milton and Beanka Beechan.
Esonia was blessed to have had the DeChabert and Schjang families, Elskoe and Lockhart families, Lola Schjang, Armelle Ferdinand, Rita Schuster and Lillia King in her life.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the viewing from 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services of St. Thomas, USVI.
Esonia’s Celebration of Life will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. The family will retire quietly after the funeral and are asking that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in the name of Esonia M. Hassell. Tributes can be sent to esoniamhassell@yahoo.com on or before Nov. 2.
Expressions of condolences may be made online at www.turnbullsfuneralhome.vi.com. Professional services are entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services, 3815 Crown Bay, Suite 10, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 00802.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services, St. Thomas USVI.