A SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING & PRAISE FOR THE LIFE OF
Germain (GIGI) GONZALEZ
SUNRISE: October 23, 1963 SUNSET: January 5, 2024 AGED: 60 Years Friday, January 12, 2024 At 11 a.m. HELD AT:
The New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Blue Hill Road Nassau, The Bahamas OFFICIATING: Pastor Alfred Stewart ASSISTED BY: Pastor Theophilus Claridge Pastor Cherece Evans ORGANIST: John Stewart INTERMENT: Woodlawn Gardens Soldier Road Nassau, The Bahamas
Obituary
We remember with love and fondness Germain (Gigi) Gonzalez, who departed this life on January 5, 2024, in Nassau, Bahamas. Born to Cecil and Marjorie Gonzalez on October 23rd, 1963, in Nassau Bahamas. Gigi was a graduate of Queens College High School, class of 1980 and anyone who knew her knew that Queens College was the best school a girl could graduate from in the 80’s. Her love for family shone brightly, especially on special occasions and during cherished family vacations, where she created lifelong memories and often shared with those she loved. A devoted mother, she lived for her sons, Theodore “TJ” and Tereno “Jason” Forbes, treating her nieces Kelgia, Kara, and Kelsie Rolle as her own daughters. Her relationship with her granddaughter Arabella was the center of her world, a bond unparalleled in its depth and love. Gigi was also a dedicated fan of soap operas, with “The Young and the Restless” holding a special place in her heart. Gigi’s infectious laughter and engaging conversations were not just a testament to her caring nature but also reflected her profound dedication to caregiving. Beyond supporting the Bahamas Academy basketball team as a beloved team mom, her selflessness shone through in her personal life. Gigi devoted her time and energy to caring for her grandfather and mother, along with many others in need, often sacrificing her own career aspirations. This choice to prioritize the well-being of her loved ones above all else left an indelible mark on her community, embodying a legacy of love, laughter, and unparalleled kindness. She is remembered by a loving family and numerous friends and community members who will miss her deeply including: Sons: Theodore “TJ” and Tereno “Jason” Forbes; Daughter-in-law: Natasha Forbes; Granddaughter: Arabella Forbes; Sister: Gina Rolle (Kelsey) and Maria Graves (Wayne); Nieces; Kelgia, Kara, Kelsie Rolle; Nephew: Wayne Cecil Graves;
Aunt: Betty Lobosky; Uncles: David Sands; Dake Gonzalez (Yvonne); Other close relatives and friends including: Mellie, Bonnie, Paula, Chuck, & Sabrina Lobosky & Family, Angie Higgs & Family, Pedro & Michelle Ferguson & Family, Scott Malone & Family, Joshua Sattem, Jennifer & Michael Sawyer, Paul & Udean Sattem, Ricardo & Felisa Gonzalez & Family, Brian & Angelia Moree & Family, Debrah Lowe & Family, Clyde, Barbara, Renny & Barry Chase & Family, Dake Gonzalez Jr. & Family, Laura Sithens & Family, Mahilley & Tammy Erdeg & Family, Rickey & Diana Chea & Family, Perry & Molly Casino & Family, Lisa Jenkins & Family, Dwayne & Donna Wells & Family, Jack & Lana Russell & Family, The Fox Family, Theodore “Teddy”Forbes & Jamie Forbes, Pat & Aaron Moncrieffe, Shaina & Reginald, RJ and Major Washington, Stephen Wilson & Family, Sidney Cartwright, Bernadette Smith & Family, Pastor Alfred Stewart & Family, The New Mount Zion Family, Todd Isaacs & Family, Lucis Fox & Family, Toran & Torriana Sands & Family, The Darville Family, Mr. Frank Watson & Family, Victoria Palmenter Gonzalez, Devon & Russara Major, Marcia, Margret Rolle & Family, Stephanie Blatch & family, The Clarke Family, Amarylis & Maureen Bethel, Alfreda Edwards & Family, Clive & Darlene Saunders & Family, Christopher Evans & Family, Millicent Ramsey, Sarah Lowe, Lincoln Bain & Family, Teaza Wallace, The Pritchard Family, The Sands Family, The Saunders Family, William Pratt & Family, Lorraine Moss & Family, Janet Lee & Family. Isaac Rolle & Family, Linda Sawyer, Bahamas Academy Graduating Classes of 2003 & 2004, The Sea Breeze Community, The Abaco Community, Queens College Classes of ‘80 & ‘81, Angelique & Happy Healing Homecare Staff, Bahamas Academy & Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, Southern Adventist University Family, Bahamas Golf Federation, Aaron & Ashton Chandler, Butler-Saunders Family, The Homerun Derby Team, Management & Staff of Providence Law, Management & Staff of Munroe and Assoc, Management & Staff of SIDDA Communications, Ltd.. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bahamas Academy, echoing her commitment to nurturing future generations.
PRESIDING MINISTER | Pastor Theophilus Claridge MUSICAL PRELUDE | Organist -John Stewart OPENING WORDS OF COMFORT | Pastor Alfred Stewart CONGREGATIONAL HYMN | How Great Thou Art O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
And when I think of Go d his son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.
(Chorus) Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. INVOCATION | Pastor Theophilus Claridge OLD TESTAMENT | (Reading Psalm 23) | Torrianna Sands CONGREGATIONAL HYMN | Great Is Thou Faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
(Chorus) Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— Great is Thy faithfulness! Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
NEW TESTAMENT READING | (John 14 v 1-3) | Colene Watson SOLO | Tammika Taylor PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD | Pastor Alfred Stewart PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY | Deacon James Bostwick AS I KNEW HER CONDOLENCES | 2 mins Pastor Cranston Evans Winston Symonette Turan Miller RECESSIONAL HYMN | When We All Get To Heaven Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace. In the mansions bright and blessèd He’ll prepare for us a place. (Chorus) When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory! While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will overspread the sky; But when travelling days are over, Not a shadow, not a sigh. Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory Will the toils of life repay. Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.
Graveside Service OPENING HYMN | Amazing Grace
Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease: I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come: ‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine; but God, who called me here below, will be forever mine.
PRAYER | Pastor Theophilus Claridge HYMN | It’s Alright Now
There was a time I travelled a lonely sinful road; Beneath a heavy burden bending low; But now all things are different, since Jesus took my load It’s alright now, I’m His I know.
A’ down a lonely pathway, without a friend to guide, I walked in sin and sorrow all alone ‘Till Jesus came and found me, and drew me to His side; It’s alright now, for I’m His own.
(Chorus) It’s alright now, for I am in my Saviour’s care It’s alright now; my Saviour hears and answers prayer He’ll walk with me, (He’ll walk beside me) Till I climb the heavenly stair, And everything (And everything is alright now)
No more in sin I wander, no more in darkness roam The Lord has placed my feet on higher ground; Each day new heights I’m gaining, my soul is nearing home, It’s alright now, I’m heaven bound.
SCRIPTURE READING | Pastor COMMITTAL | Pastor HYMN | It Is Finished There’s a line that is drawn through the ages On that line stands an old rugged cross On that cross, a battle is raging To gain a man’s soul or it’s loss
The earth shakes with the force of the conflict And the sun refuses to shine For there hangs God’s son, in the balance And then through the darkness he cries
(Chorus) It is finished, the battle is over; it is finished, there’ll be no more war It is finished, the end of the conflict; it is finished and Jesus is Lord
Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging Not all prisoners of war had come home These were battlefields of my own making I didn’t know that the war had been won
On one side, march the forces of evil All the demons, all the devils of hell On the other, the angels of glory And they meet on Golgotha’s hill
Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages Had fought all the battles for me And that victory was mine for the claiming And now praise his name, I am free.
BENEDICTION | Pastor CLOSING HYMN | Blessed Assurance Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. (Chorus) This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
G
My Sweet Sister
igi, the past few months have been a profound journey. Despite the challenges and pain, your strength and resilience stood steadfast. The many trips to doctors and hospitals bore witness to your indomitable spirit.
her as another daughter. But it was Arabella who brought a special joy, lighting up your world with her very mention.
Our daily interactions, even the arguments, were a part of our bond. I find solace in the photos and videos we captured, which hold both laughter and tears, and recall I cherish our shared memories, like our unforgettable the times we shared with Mommy and Daddy. birthday trip. Now, your absence leaves a void filled only by the echoes of your laughter and the memories of our Though there’s a heaviness in my heart, it’s eased by the constant phone calls. thought of you watching over us, free from pain. Until we meet again, your love will remain with us. Farewell, my Your heart belonged to your sons, TJ and Jason. And with dear Gigi—I love you, I miss you, and you will forever be Kelsey, you gained the brother you never had. When the in my heart. girls, Kelgia, Kara, and Kelsie, came into your life, your love grew exponentially and you acted like only you had I love you nieces. Then Tasha joined the family, and you embraced Gina
Mummy’s
BOYS
O
ur mother, Gigi, was the epitome of strength and sacrifice. From the earliest days of our childhood, she laid the foundation of our lives with the mortar of selflessness and the bricks of discipline. Every dollar she earned was a seed planted towards the growth of her sons, and every moment she had was dedicated to ensuring that Jason and I thrived, often at the expense of her own needs. She was a disciplinarian with a tender heart, a nurturer who believed in tough love, a legacy from her father that she bore with pride.
struggle of self-reliance. As we embarked on our careers, the time finally came to reciprocate the love and support she so generously gave us. Welcoming her into our homes, we shared with her the fruits of the work ethic she instilled in us.
As our lives evolved, so did her unwavering support. Mummy never craved material luxuries; her wealth was in seeing us succeed. She poured her soul into our school life, especially our basketball team, becoming a beloved figure who extended her nurturing touch beyond her own sons to our teammates.
As we bid a temporary farewell to our remarkable mother, we say thank you, Gigi. Thank you for the sacrifices, for the love that knew no bounds, for the lessons that shaped us into the men we are today. Your pride in us is our guiding star, and the values you taught us will be passed on to Arabella and beyond. Your legacy is not just in what you did for us but also in the indelible mark you left on every life you touched. We promise to carry your spirit with us always and to share your story with all of your grands and generations to come. Until we meet again, we carry your heart in our hearts.
Our college years brought new challenges, yet Mummy’s support never wavered. She equipped us with the invaluable lesson of resilience, ensuring we graduated debt-free yet seasoned by the
But it was the arrival of Arabella, her first grandchild, that brought a new dimension of joy to her life. Their bond was a beautiful testament to the endless capacity of her love—a love so profound that it seemed to defy the very limits of affection.
We love you TJ and Jason
TO OUR BELOVED GIGI:
The most ideal way to describe our love for you is quoted from a birthday post Mommy wrote for you in 2021, “my kids couldn’t love you more if you were their mom.” How could we love you more when you’ve already shown up for us as if we were your children? How could we love you any less when you would wage war on any family member that classified us as solely your nieces (including Mommy)? To the public we’ve lost an aunty but in our hearts we’ve lost a second mother. Outside of our parents and each other, you were undoubtedly the most influential person in our lives. You are one of the hands that have aided in molding us to be the women we are today. You have instilled so much into us: from teaching us how to wash clothes, to teaching us how to clean and season meat, to teaching us that silver and gold jewelry should never mix, to teaching us that oat water soaks helps with eczema flare ups and so much more. We definitely would not be the women we are today without your love, guidance and uncensored criticism. Writing this in past tense is so strange when we’ve always seen you in our future and you’ve always been a part of our present. Every important life event whether it be a birthday, holiday, family vacation, or school event, you were there for all of us. It’s
unimaginable to process the idea of a happy wedding, pregnancy, graduation or significant event without you, our biggest hype man. While you were there for every significant event, you also made the little moments grand to us. We reflect on the true crime documentary marathon nights, binge watching “the Crown,” taking us on “aunty niecy dates,” you picking us up from school every Friday, persistent phone calls and even the weekly family zoom sessions over the pandemic. A world without you simply does not feel real. It’s hard to capture what we want to say to you or about you, into these few words. You spoke fearlessly and passionately, into every room and conversation that you stepped into, whether you were right or wrong. We were never able to predict the next thing you would say, but that sparked a sense of fun and laughter to everyone that was blessed with your presence. To say that we will miss you could not begin to suffice. We feel shattered without you. This is a loss like no other, however, we are forever grateful to have experienced being loved by you. Thank you for loving us, and projecting the light that you saw into all of Aunty’s Girls. This is a pain that nothing on this earth can heal or suppress but it brings us borderline peace to know that you are no longer suffering. -Aunty Girls (Kelgia, Kara and Kelsie)
DEAR GIGI, Your love knew no bounds. You were the heart of our family, always putting others first, especially your boys. From the moment you welcomed me into your family, you embraced me not just as your daughter-in-law but as a daughter. Your sacrifices and unwavering support have left a lasting mark on us all. Whenever I was in the kitchen, struggling with a recipe, you were my guiding hand. You taught me more than just recipes; you taught me the warmth of family love. The way you raised TJ, with a heart so kind and full of love, reflects the incredible mother you were. Your spirit, kindness, and love live on through him. Missing you feels like an unfillable void, but I am grateful for the time, love, and wisdom you shared. You will always be cherished and remembered. With all my love, Tasha
MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE
We, the family extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the many friends and family for each and every act of kindness shown to us during this most difficult time. Your prayers, visits, calls, messages and well wishes will always be remembered. We Sincerely Thank Everyone of You The Family
PALLBEARERS Jared Ferguson Kyle Ferguson Cody Lobosky Chuck Lobosky Michael Sawyer
HONORARY PALLBEARERS Theodore “TJ” Forbes Tereno “Jason” Forbes Kelsey Rolle Wayne Graves
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