Luc Hilaire

BIOGRAPHY OF LUC HILAIRE

On March 27, 1930 in a place not far from Port-au-Prince, called Taïfer, was born to the late Saint-Hilaire Hilaire and Carmen Jean-Baptiste a male child named Luc Hilaire.  As his father died very early, his mother remarried and Luc grew up enjoying the company of seven siblings. Marius, Antoine, Lucienne and Yolaine are already deceased.  He is survived by the other three: Jean Claude, Raoul and Rose-Marie.  After a few years of basic studies, he was sent to his godfather to be trained as a shoemaker.  Therefore he started his life with a deep sense of responsibility and purpose, which would guide him well throughout his existence.

The first period of his youth, he likes to recall, was somewhat tumultuous but once he started attending a Pentecostal church in Port-au-Prince, he discovered new aspects and philosophy in life.  There he met Philocia Benjamin who swept him from his feet and at the age of twenty nine, he decided to marry her and to build his own family.  From that relationship, were born eight children: four boys - Joël, Josué, Obed and Bob-Garry; and four girls – Mona, Babette, Claudia and Ruth.  Ruth died in early childhood.

Luc was very devout and seemed to be longing for more in his relationship with God.  He studied with different religious groups and yet felt a sense of void as so many of his questions remained without a fulfilling answer.  His quest reached an end when in April 1967, a missionary of Yugoslavia descent by the name of Nick Gwick came to Haiti.  His encounter with that man changed completely his life.  He developed a deep love for the Word of God and applied himself to live a righteous and holy life.  He loved so much what he was discovering that he implemented it in his family.  Every day started with a moment of devotion where he shared with his children the knowledge and understanding he was acquiring from the teaching of this man of God.  So studious he was that his knowledge brought him out of his initial church.  He became the assistant of a certain pastor Franck Jean-Marie then pastor himself.  But soon, with the size of his family and the economic condition of his beloved Haiti, he was facing a dilemma: should he continue pastoring or going overseas in other to meet the needs of his family?

As he opted to travel for the well-being of the family, he sat down with his first born Joël and explained his decision to him.  His first born son was nineteen years old at that time when that heavy mantle fell on his shoulder.  Luc’s sense of responsibility and his spirit of sacrifice kept him going to sustain his family until he was able after many years to bring them all in the United States.

The greatest legacy he left them is the example of a clean life and the firm conviction that a life without God is a wasted existence.  He was also strong on acquiring a decent education.  He used to like to say, “I want to sacrifice so my children won’t be in my position.  I want them to reach levels that I couldn’t afford in life.”

In the early morning of Sunday, November 24, 2019, Luc stepped into glory where he will rest from his deeds on this earth.  Behind him are left to dearly miss him his beloved wife of 59 years, Philocia Hilaire; his sons and daughters: Joël (Claire), Mona (Léon), Babette (Louis Gérard Papillon), Josué (Michèle), Obed (Mirlene), Bob-Garry (Merline), and Claudia (Christopher Guerrier); his brothers: Jean and Raoul; his sister: Rose-Marie; his grandchildren: Sabrina, Erika, George, Jeff Elisee (Tasha), Jenny Marthsra ( Germain Lanier), Isaac Leon, Jemima, Joshua, John Michael, Ruth Christelle, Jonathan, Isaie, David Leeroy, Theodore Daniel, Benjamin Mozart, Christy Victoria, Dansheille, Mardoushy Shan, and Lovely Chloe; his greatgrandchildren: King-Josiah, Jaila, Jerome III, Johanna, Geohaney, Gabrielle, Gelagah, Aaliyah, Aaron, Jasiah Omar.  Others sorrowful mourners include cousins, nephews and nieces affected by his departure.