Marie Gecie (Lacroix) Rencher was born on December 1st, 1957, in Port Au Prince, Haiti. She was the daughter of the late Mr. Lucien and Mrs. Cleante Felix Lacroix. As the middle child of nine children, Marie grew up surrounded by family in the community of Pacot. From elementary school to high school, she attended and graduated from the Institute Gerard Gourgue. At a very young age, she was bright, creative, responsible, and independent. Given this, her parents presented her with the opportunity to go to the United States to live with her father’s brother and his family. So, in June 1982, at the tender age of 24 years old, she left Haiti and became a resident of Asbury Park, New Jersey to start this new chapter of her life.
Embarking on this new chapter of life, provided Marie access to the American Dream – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But for Marie, her life from an early age was built on serving the Lord God and supporting her community, which makes it no surprise that her second home upon arriving to the United States was The First Haitian Baptist Church of Asbury Park for nearly 42 years. As a new church member, she was very active and participated in many activities and joined the church choir as one of her first ministries. Through her engagement at church, her sweet smile and friendly demeanor, she established so many life-long friendships and sisterhoods, all of whom she loved dearly.
In 1984, after a season of courtship, Marie married Henock Rencher and started a family of her own with the birth of her two daughters Sabrina and Nathalie, during the course of their marriage. In the same year, she began her 35-year career at Monmouth Medical Center as a Dietary Menu Technician within the Food Service Department. She was a loyal and supportive team member and performed her job with excellence. She always had a warm welcoming face to the nursing staff and patients she interacted with daily. Marie cared for patients in such a way that they could sense the God she served. Throughout her career, she presented her God-given message of endurance and perseverance. She mentored and inspired many people to live the life God chose for them to live rather than the life they desired. Marie truly enjoyed making a difference in people's lives by sharing the message of Jesus Christ, her personal experiences, her time, and her table.
As a devout Christian and servant of the Lord at the First Haitian Baptist Church she served as secretary of Sunday School for over ten years and seventeen years and five years as vice president and president, respectively, of the Les Deborah Woman's Ensemble. When she was not in church, she was spending time with her family, at a prayer meeting, bringing groceries to the elderly, visiting the sick and shut-in, or planning parties to honor dear friends and loved ones! Marie was a strong family woman who enjoyed sharing a meal and her home with you. She had such a love for people, and this is shown through the many relationships she made throughout different seasons of her life. Marie was like a second mother to many individuals and made you feel like family. Her greatest delight and sense of accomplishment came from parenting her two daughters, Sabrina and Nathalie, whose lives will be forever changed by the presence of a loving, caring, and consistent mother. But the beat of her heart came from spending quality time with her granddaughters Brielle, and Mia, who at all times, kept her young!
Her final days were spent as her whole life was, surrounded by the love and care of her family and close friends. Words cannot express the gratitude that the Family has for every prayer and word of encouragement that has come their way.
She is predeceased by her parents, Lucien and Cleante, and two siblings: Lucien Jr. and Pierre Andre.
Gecie’s memory will be forever cherished and remembered by her two daughters: Nathalie Rencher and Sabrina Regine Henry, a son-in-love: Pastor Guy Karl Henry, two granddaughters: Brielle and Mia Henry, and her brothers and sisters: Anacia Jean, Carlo Lacroix, Gerald Lacroix, Marie Carole Deus, Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Lacroix, Ersule Lacroix Gustave, and Guirlene Lacroix, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members from Rencher, Lacroix, Henry, Laguerre, Loiseau, and Frederique.
