Marlene Barthelus

Mrs. Marlene Barthelus of Union New Jersey died unexpectedly at Overlook Hospital in Summit New Jersey at the age of 75.

Marlene was born in Saint-Marc, Haiti, on June 6, 1946, to Mrs. Gracile Sertile (deceased) and Mr. Léonce Dauphin (deceased). She was raised, revered and educated under the of tutelage of the late Mr. Vilcius Dortilus who was more than a father to her. Marlene completed her primary studies at the Georges Anguste Institution also known as L’École Fanny; she went on to continue her high school education at L'École Antoinette Dessalines in Saint Marc.

In addition, she had been to Port-au-Prince to take professional courses at a vocational school where her focus of studies were the culinary arts, sewing, fashion and haute couture. In her youth, Marlene had a passion for theater and music which she expressed through plays at local events, school and church. Her talents were noticed in schools and the rural community.

In 1965 she returned to her hometown to teach middle school at the Bon Samaritan school where most of the students were the very same siblings and cousins that she reared. After several years of teaching at Bon Samaritan, Marlene eventually returned to her alma matter Georges Anguste Institution to teach elementary school.

“Maloulou”, as her family affectionately knew her, loved her family deeply and as a natural born leader was instrumental in helping to raise her eight siblings and countless cousins. She was described as a mini “mom” who was strong but fair who believed in hard work, discipline and structure balanced with fun and “joi de vivre”. She impressed upon them the importance of being productive, intentional and self-sufficient.  

In 1970 Marlene emigrated to the United States. She landed in JFK and settled in Brooklyn with a few dollars in her pocket with dreams of manifesting infinite possibilities into reality. She worked a variety of jobs to support herself and family back home. As fate would have it, she reconnected with an old acquaintance from her neighborhood in Haitï and after a brief courtship married Joseph Barthelus December 31, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York. They would eventually relocate to Elizabeth New Jersey where they started a family, producing three children: their eldest daughter Myriam Barthelus born May 1973, Ronald Barthelus born February 1976 and Chantal Barthelus born December 1982. Between 1979 and 1998 the family would move several times throughout Union County New Jersey before finally settling in Union New Jersey.

She acquired a position in packaging at Lermer Packaging Company in the fall of 1973. While working at Lermer, with the support of her husband, utilized her earnings to venture into real-estate and over the years acquired several investment properties which she leveraged to explore several business ventures. Over the course of 21 years Marlene would eventually reunite with her family by helping to emigrate from Haiti to United States her mother, father, siblings and countless extended family members one by one.

Marlene was a loving wife and mother who had a deep sense of community and strongly believed in paying it forward. Her home became a refuge for a myriad of family members and others who emigrated to the United States from Haiti. She helped many to adapt being in America by taking them to fill out job applications, local government establishments to acquire their credentials or local schools for enrollment all while she ministered the word of God, whom she always put at the center of her ministry of serving people.

After working at Lermer for 25 years the company would eventually close; she then took that as an opportunity to re-educate herself to become a CNA and certified home health-aid where she went on to work in several health care facilities in New Jersey for 10 years before retiring. During the winter season of her life, Marlene often traveled to her beloved homeland of Haiti. She found joy in hosting a lot of the neighborhood children in her home; she never turned away those who were hungry, counseled those who may have been experiencing personal or family crises, supported the local children by sponsoring their education, and helped many to develop a relationship with God. She was a faithful member of Haitian Bethany Baptist Church, and an avid fan and supporter of Radio Verite.

Marlene is preceded by the death of her husband Joseph Barthelus, her sister Marie-Paul Diuejuste and her mother Mrs. Gracile Sertile and her father Mr. Vilcius Dortilus. Her uncles Adam Sertile and Eduard Sertile, his aunt Mme Yvonne Prophete, his cousin Amilcar Prophete, his brother Autorité Dauphin and her brother Léonce Dauphin.

Marlene leaves behind her children: Myriam and her husband Jean-René Estinval, Ronald and his wife Bever-Leigh Barthelus and his daughter Chantal Barthelus. His brothers: Levelt Datilus and his wife Pastor Amona B. Datilus, Gracia Dort, Wanese Dort and his wife Aneide Dort, Rolnor Dortilus, Rodrigue Dauphin, Phalier Dauphin, Guitenbert Dauphin, France Dauphin and Junior Dauphin. Her sisters: Magalie Fenelus, Rolna Charles and her husband Ethan Charles, Clinda Pierre and her husband Jean B. Pierre, Mimose Dauphin, Kerlange Dauphin, Nadège Dauphin and his wife Marie Nergene Dauphin. His grandchildren: Jeremiah Estinval, Jayla and Jadyn Barthelus, Da-Naeya Rhodes and Tyshon Beckles. The great-grandchild: Easton Isaac Eusebio. His nephews: Anderson Diuejuste, Barthelson Diuejuste, Géfté Diuejuste, Josué Diuejuste, Calvin Pierre, Brian Pierre, Arthur Pierre, Ruby Dort, Adler LaFleur, Andy Dauphin, Widny Dauphin, Patrick Rodlens, Emmanuel, Brian, Givens, Taeshon, Rivelens, Jeremiah and Levenson Dauphin. Her nieces: Vastie Datilus, Myrna Datilus, Shelsie Datilus, Jenny Pierre-Diuejuste, Dina Dort, Thereline Dort, Wadeline Dort, Parchelle LaFleur, Alexandra Fenelus, Kelise Dauphin, Léonceline and Pharline Dauphin. His uncle Israel Sertile, his aunt Mrs. Ermices Sertile, Mrs. Aleus-Sertile, Mrs. Geunevieve Sertile. His cousins: Wisler Prophete, Fequier Prophete, Saul Prophete, Nadia Riche, Aline Prophete, Pasteur Norvil Sertile, Engeneur Agronome Marcorel Saint-Elien, Schiller Saint-Elien, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Saint-Elien, Junia Saint-Elien, Israel Sertile, Michelet Sertile, Elimaude Sertile and Umene Mautes. Finally, to all her extended family, friends and allies who are touched by this loss we extend our deepest condolences.

Marlene Barthelus was a woman of distinction and faith who believed in living life with intention and making moments count. She was petite in stature but a giant in the spirit, affecting the lives of all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

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