The family of Gwynneth Merle Moolenaar sadly announces her passing on Nov. 5, 2025 in New York. Born on St. Thomas on Dec. 21, 1945 to Lucien and Ruth Moolenaar, she graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul School in 1962. She matriculated at the Catholic University in Ponce, PR and became fluent in Spanish before transferring to Annhurst College (Conn) from which she earned the BA degree in Business.
Encouraged to study Law by Judge Eileen Petersen, she received the JD degree from Howard University Law School. After passing the DC and VI Bars, she was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court, an achievement of which she was especially proud. Gwynneth served in the US Dept of Housing and then the Justice Dept in DC where, among other assignments, she investigated housing discrimination in Georgia and in Nevada.
She later returned to the VI and served as legal counsel in the VI Dept of Education under Commissioner Liston Davis. She worked for some time in the Law Office of Atty Andrew Capdeville and opened a private practice, working for decades until suffering a debilitating stroke in 2014.
Her great love of music was fostered in her youth by learning to play both the piano and the organ under the tutelage of Mr. Ulmont James. As an adult, she served as an organist at OLPH Catholic Church and developed a vibrant choir there. She often arranged concerts using the best voices in the community whether Catholic or not. She also developed a diocesan choir in collaboration with other Catholic parish choirs that once performed at the Island Center (STX).
Gwynneth is survived by daughter Lucienne Moolenaar and grandsons Ainsley and Isaac Moolenaar, siblings Dr. Gwen-Marie Moolenaar and Dr. Lucien A. Moolenaar, 11; nephew Atty Lucien Moolenaar, 111 and nieces Ashley Moolenaar Bernier (James) and Shenelle Moolenaar, several great -nephews and great -nieces, numerous cousins locally, including Elma Moolenaar Francis, George Moolenaar (Sadie), Claudette Georges, and Georges family , with many other cousins in New York (D’Astreii and Marsh families), Maryland (Richards families) and California (Marsh families); close friends including Judy Corniero Barber, Clara Bryan, Carmen Sibilly, Beverley DeLugo Collins, Atty Fred Vialet, Jr., Allan Harrigan, Dr. Larry Benjamin, Dr. Alfred Health and numerous choir voices throughout the community.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Our lady of Perpetual Help Church (OLPH) on Mafolie on Thursday, April 16 at 10 a.m., with tributes at 9:30 a.m.
The family suggests that contributions in her memory be made to OLPH Church.
