Avelina Alexandre's Obituary
Avelina Alexandre—lovingly known as “Ve Ve,” “Madame Setace,” “Grandma” and simply "Mommy"—was a woman who didn't just live life; she conquered it. A resident of Fort Myers, Florida, Avelina completed her earthly journey on February 18, 2026, at the age of 80.
Born on August 25, 1945, in Peletier Baguette, Haiti, she was the beloved daughter of the late Victoria Pierre and Paul Emile Alexandre I. Avelina was a hardworking, self-made woman—sharp, capable, and guided by an intelligence, resourcefulness, and determination shaped by lived experience and God-given wisdom. In Haiti, she forged her life with ingenuity, managing her properties and creating business opportunities with her own hands and intuition. After immigrating to the United States in the late 1980s, Avelina continued to work tirelessly as a housekeeper, a caretaker, and occasionally assisting in construction. Whatever she put her hands to, she approached with excellence, dignity, and pride.
But Avelina’s work ethic was nothing compared to her will to survive. Her journey to America was not a travel story; it was an odyssey marked by extraordinary courage. She survived a ride on a cement truck that could have been deadly, a shipwreck in Cuba, and once was lost at sea and presumed dead. These trials were not for adventure but for love: the fierce determination to secure a better future for her children. Eventually reaching Miami, she worked tirelessly as a single mother to bring each of them safely to join her. Avelina was driven by a mother’s love and the determination to secure a future for her family. Her sacrifices became the foundation on which her family stands today.
Avelina carried a quiet fire and an unshakable strength that echoed through everything she did. With little, she created much—turning scarcity into abundance with creativity that only a mother could possess. She was known for her no-nonsense sass, sharp humor, quick wit, and a bright smile accented by her signature gold-tipped front tooth that lit up every room. Avelina showed her love not through many words, but through presence, protection, provision, and the certainty that her family always came first.
She was the ringleader of her friends, the one who knew how to get things done, and a well-known figure in her community. Though her hobbies were simple, her spirit was not—Avelina found joy in the hustle. Whether negotiating at thrift stores, searching yard sales for treasures to flip, or proudly stretching a dollar farther than anyone thought possible, she never met a price tag she wasn't willing to haggle over. She embraced life with purpose and joy. And Avelina fought to the very end, meeting every health challenge from 2007 onward with the same grit that had carried her across borders and through storms.
Avelina was a survivor, a protector, and the rock of her family. Her life is a testament to courage, sacrifice, and a mother’s love that stretched across oceans. Her legacy will continue through her children, whom she loved fiercely: Lucette Alteme (Alchence), Jean Raynold Filius, Junette Milhomme, Marie Jo Voltaire (David), and Cherline Owens (Jordan). She also raised and is survived by her niece, Lautilde Wright (Norris).
Avelina’s fire lives on in her grandchildren: Leila, Luke, and Maurice Alteme; Djino Filius-Borneus; Davidson, Da'Marie, and David Jr. Voltaire; and Jah'Hari Solivert; as well as her great-grandson, Djkai Borneus.
Ve Ve leaves behind her siblings Alize Wilson Alexandre, Lafontant Louisdor, and Dorcillian Louisdor. She now joins the many loved ones who passed before her, including her parents and her siblings Philomine Alexandre, Saint Alice Alexandre, Albert Alexandre, Degrace Alexandre, Cicilia Alexandre, Preeleve Alexandre, Combronne Alexandre, Alphonse Alexandre, and Annocia Alexandre.
Avelina’s life was a testament to courage, sacrifice, tenacity, and a mother’s love that stretched across borders and generations. Mommy, nou sonje w. Rest in God’s eternal peace.
The funeral will be held at 10 am on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Eglise de Dieu la Foi Chretienne (Church of God Christian Faith) 2841 Fowler Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Viewing will be from 9am until the time of the service. Burial will be at 1:00 pm at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33907.
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