Lenise Toussaint, nationally renowned Haitian centenarian, dies at 109 in Pennsylvania

Lenise Aris Petit Toussaint, a beloved Haitian matriarch known for her unwavering strength, love, and enduring faith, died in East Norriton, Pennsylvania, on June 10 at the age of 109. Her family said she had an illness that took hold following a recent fall.

“My grandmother was a special human,” Guethara Joachim, one of Toussaint’s 16 grandchildren, said. “I have never met anyone like her, full of life, wisdom and strength. She was a woman of few words. But when she spoke, you had to listen to every word she had to say.”

In 2024, Toussaint was honored as the oldest living resident of Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County, receiving accolades from the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, State Governor and the White House. 

Her life is immortalized in her grandson’s 2018 book, “Superheroes of Service,” and a profile in The Haitian Times.

Toussaint’s journey is remarkable—from her farmland upbringing in Haiti to becoming a national symbol of resilience in the U.S.—that loved ones say will leave a legacy of faith, service and indomitable spirit for generations to come. Her family says she will be remembered for her compassion, herbal medicine know-how, healthy eating habits and steadfast dedication to family and community service.  

“I hope to live my life like she did—full of compassion, love, kindness—and most importantly, one that would make her proud of me,” Joachim said.

A strong foundation set in Haitian land and culture 

Born Lenise Aris Petit on August 30, 1915, in Belle Rivière, a village in northwest Haiti’s Jean-Rabel, to Eliana Joseph and Archille Petit, the young woman grew to become a devoted wife to the late Gabriel Toussaint. Affectionately called ‘Granny’ or ‘Man Gabo’ —a Haitian Creole nickname short for Madame Gabriel— she bore six children, including two sons and four daughters, over a marriage spanning nearly 60 years. Before his passing in March 1998, the couple built a life anchored in faith and hard work. 

Toussaint’s early exposure to agriculture as a child laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to sustainable farming practices. In her youth, Lenise became involved in artisanal work, creating handmade crafts reflecting her local culture that eventually helped support her family financially. 

As an avid farmer and herbalist, Toussaint tended acres of land producing sugar cane, mangoes, yams, potatoes, plantains, yucca, sweet potatoes, coffee, cocoa, beans and corn. She raised chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, cows, mules, horses and donkeys. She also discovered the healing properties of local herbs, a vital part of her secrets to longevity.

After Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, Toussaint later immigrated to the United States, where she continued to impact lives until the very end. 

For Ulysse Toussaint, a grandson, she will be greatly missed, but her legacy will endure.

“Her story will live on in the lives she touched, the values she taught, and the legacy she built with love,” he told The Haitian Times.

Faith, commitment to education anchored longevity 

As she aged, Toussaint remained rooted in her community. She sang in the choir, contributed to the Ladies’ Ministry and participated in prayer meetings and conferences both in Haiti and U.S. communities. She kept up her gardening, cooking and caring for her great-grandchildren.

“She was the glue of our family, the moral compass who guided us all,” Toussaint’s great-granddaughter, Anne-Valérie LaRose, shared. 

“If it weren’t for her sacrifice, I wouldn’t be where I am today. From her, I learned the value of hard work, humility and unwavering faith. After God, she laid the foundation for everything.”

From grandchildren to great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, Toussaint played a role in all their education. 

“I recall how she would line us up to review homework and have us recite the subject matters,” Hermane S. Michel shared. “ If we stuttered just a tad, she’d move us back in line. Only to find out later on that she couldn’t even read what she was reviewing.”

 “She always encouraged me to have a healthy eating habit,” Michel continued. “No heavy food past 6 p.m. As a kid, growing up, I didn’t like or understand it. But, now I appreciate it much more than she could’ve articulated.”

Toussaint is survived by her devoted daughter, Odette Carter—the only one of her six children still living; 16 grandchildren—Lionel, Gracelle, Salomé, Joanne, Irène, Nora, Steve, Alain, Suze, Stephanie, Brunie, Ermide, Dominique, Ulysse, Guethara and Junie—18 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

“Her life was a gift to all of us,” granddaughter Guethara said, “A beacon of kindness, independence and deep moral conviction.”

A celebration of life is scheduled for June 18 at 10 a.m. EST at the Norristown Church of God in Norristown, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to charities supporting Haitian farmers and women-led ministries. To further ‘Man Gabo’s’ legacy, another grand celebration will be held around her birthday in late August in collaboration with Ayiti Community Trust and pHresKoo Mocktail & Juice. 

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