Obituary of Carmel Noel

Carmel Noel, born Carmel Ruffin Sunrise: October 11, 1931 Sunset: May 9, 2016 84 Years old Born in Birch Grove, St. Andrew's Grenada, a picturesque village in the middle of the island known for its hard-working,friendly people. The first born of the late Peter "Vivian" Ruffin and Veronica "Annie Ruffin," Carmel shone as a smart, outgoing child,who loved the written word. She read everything – in those days, the books available in Grenada were mainly fromEngland, some from the United States. As she grew into a young woman, she especially loved poetry and FrenchLiterature. She was also quite the talker and an inventive storyteller, able to keep friends and family on the edge oftheir seats with the elaborate and suspenseful endings of her tales. By her early teens she showed signs of a mental sensitivity, which caused her parents some concern and caused them tobe overly protective of her. They wrapped her in love and community, prayers and education. She received a solideducation at St. Joseph's convent in St. George's, Grenada. She married Denis Noel in 1956 at the age of 25. She bore seven children, losing her first born in infancy. The death ofher baby took its toll on her and years later she talked about his loss with earnest longing. She travelled to the US in 1967 and settled in Brooklyn, New York into a large, loving Grenadian community. In spite ofher lovely, joyful spirit, she struggled to handle and manage her life. After years of being misdiagnosed, the puzzle wasfinally solved when her children insisted on further tests. She was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. With propertreatment, and always with a loving family at her side, Carmel Noel, found her true gift as a caregiver for the young, illdaughter of a friend on Long Island. But what was most important to Carmel was her own family and she made a very important choice: she concentratedon being the best mother and a grandmother she could be – making up for the time lost when, she was misdiagnosedand was unwell. She became the perfect grandmother playing an important role in the raising of her eldestgrandchildren. She moved to Jersey City, NJ in 1987 with her daughter, Yvette, and her family, then eventually to Towaco, NJ, in 2001. In 2004, she entered Wayne Manor Nursing Home in Wayne, NJ where she flourished as one of the youngest residents. She continued her avid reading, attending to her plants and making friends very quickly. She moved to nearby Regency Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in 2008 where her "squad" was legendary,adopting the nickname The Ratpack. They were four feisty, strong women, who spoke their minds and excelled atbingo. She was the Sammy Davis of the group. Go figure. Carmel Noel was spared of most physical ailments until last year and used her gift of good health to concentrate onnourishing her big heart and the most caring, giving spirit. She was well loved and leaves a complete village to carry onher legacy of seeing the good in every situation, rising above the pitfalls and loving unconditionally. Her mourning village includes her siblings: Helen, Willis, Carmelita (Little Carmel), and Francis Ruffin, Maria, Justin andDerrick Farray and Nugent Smith. Children: Yvonne Noel, Trevor Noel, Yvette Noel-Schure, Denzil Noel, Yoland MarvaUgorji and Jean Noel. Sons-in-Law, David Schure and Chidi Ugorji. Daughter-in-Law, Pamela Noel. Sisters-in-Law,Catherine, Gwendolyn, Stella and Agnes Ruffin, Helen Farray and Shelia Smith. Grandchildren: Zaneta, Trevor, Jr.,Michael, Tichina, Denzil, Jr., Leon, Carzi, Micah, Milan, Denzil, III, Shazil, Jasmine, Zion, Tunisia, Kaya, Simone, Oluciand Noah. Bonus daughters, Kirl, Kayo and Shirley-Ann. Many nieces and nephews, including Raffie, Erma, Marilyn,Nicole, Kira, Vanessa, Karen, Devon, Gale, Alpha, Jeanette, Jaclyn, June, Linzy, Valon, Lindon, Candy and Carol. Great-grand children: Zamazi, Elijah, Kinya-Rae, Keiana, Ryusei, Kamden, Kali and Rayne. Special cousins: Cossil LewisGermaine Charles, Jean Celestine, Josephine St. Hillaire and Winnie Charles and The Lewis, Gittens, Celestine, Wall,Wilson, Antoine and Charles families. Her brothers, Denis and Diony Ruffin, her husband Denis Noel, her baby son Aubrey and her great-grand children,Kenneth Trevor and Lillian Noel, preceded Carmel Noel in death. In memory of the loving heart of Carmel Noel, we pray that each and everyone will dedicate themselves to performingat least one an act of daily kindness in her name. Lovingly submitted by the family…