Joseph Raoul St. Jean

Nous ne mesurons pas la vie par les années, mais par l’amour et les vies que nous touchons. We measure life not by years, but by the love and lives we touch.

Joseph Raoul St Jean, lovingly known as “Raoul” to most and “Joseph” to some, was born on May 3, 1950, in Arcahaie, Haiti, to the late Dazilia St. Jean and the late Elie Pierre Charles.

On his mother’s side, he was the fourth child and only son and is survived by his loving sisters Odette, Henriette, Chrislaine, and Viviane. He also shared many bonds with his brothers and sisters on his father’s side.

In 1981, Raoul made the courageous decision to leave Haiti and begin a new chapter in the United States, settling in Queens, New York, where he spent many years building his life.

In 1996, he married Sonnie Fontin, and together they built a home in Bay Shore, New York. Through this union, he became a devoted father to Stephane Fontin, whom he lovingly raised from the age of six.

On February 23, 2000, he welcomed his daughter, Christie Breana St. Jean, who became the center of his world. He was delighted to witness her journey to become a Registered Nurse in 2025.

In 2002, Raoul began his career as a school bus driver—a role he carried with pride, dedication, and integrity. In 2012, he relocated to Kissimmee, Florida, where he continued his work faithfully until his passing. He was known as a dependable and honest employee who always went out of his way to help others.

Raoul was a man of deep faith and his relationship with God guided the way he lived his life. He consistently shared that faith with others, offering encouragement, wisdom and scripture to those around him.

He was a man of kindness and quiet strength—gentle, patient and rarely ever angry. He was someone you could call on, count on and lean on.

One of his greatest joys in life was becoming a grandfather. His pride and joy, his grandson Josiah Raoul Blanks, was born on February 24, 2024, followed by his granddaughter, Jekalyn Rose Blanks, on April 3, 2025. He also embraced his bonus grandson, Zyier Blanks, with love, fully welcoming him into his heart and family.

Raoul was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, an uncle and a friend. He loved deeply and was deeply loved in return by many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends whose lives he touched in meaningful ways.

He passed away on March 18, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, strength, and devotion that will never be forgotten