Gertrude Philidor

Gertrude Philidor, 70, of Irvington, New Jersey, entered eternal life on August 28th., 2025, accompanied by the love and prayers of those closest to her.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time.

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Saturday, September 13th from 8:30-11:30AM. Services will be held during the visitation. Interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery, Linden, at approximately 12:15PM.

Gertrude was born on August 22nd., 1955, in Petite Riviere de L’Artibonite, Haiti, where she grew up and spent her childhood. She enjoyed playing soccer and taking care of her family. Gertrude was always a good cook and she knew her way around various recipes and meals to satisfy all at the table. She was also known for her beautiful and bright smile, that could light up a room from just that simple gesture.

Getrude came to the United States around 1979 and was local to the Essex County area. She worked for many years as a Certified Nursing Assistant, most recently at the VA Medical Center in East Orange, NJ. She also dedicated a lot of time to volunteering at various organizations and charities. Her caring nature resonated with everyone she looked after during those years, and it really shone through in her home too. Gertrude was always a loving mother and caretaker, going to various sporting events and being supportive of all her children. She even sent “care-packages” back home to Haiti; of different items and clothing she gathered at numerous shops and stores.

In her later years, Gertrude enjoyed her TV programs, like Judge Judy, Maury, Days of Our Lives, and Passions. She could always have a conversation about daytime television. Gertrude really loved to travel, not only back home to Haiti, but to many other places as well. She even met a few famous people along her journeys, like Shemar Moore and Wyclef Jean. Throughout her life, Gertrude was a “god-fearing” woman, and she attended church frequently.  Even in times of craziness and doubt, Gertrude remained the “calm” in most of her families’ lives. Above all, she was a loving mother, sister, daughter, partner, and friend, and she will be truly missed by all who had the privilege of loving her.

Gertrude is predeceased by her father, Antoine St. Fleur, her siblings, Marie Altagracia Ferdinand, Esther St. Fleur, and Antony Claude, and the father of her children, Minguet Philidor. She is survived by her mother, her children, Glafirah Dumas and her father, Alexandre Dumas, Marlene Philidor and her husband, Darnell Andrews, Minguet Philidor, Jr. and his wife Telisha, Marshall Philidor and his wife, Christina, Maxwell Philidor and his partner, Sasha Burney, Margaret Germain and her husband Jean, her stepchildren, Marlon Philidor and Makayla Philidor, her 15 grandchildren, her 2 great- grandchildren, her sisters, Agatha St. Fleur and Michelle St. Fleur, her niece, Darlene Chery Celicourt, her nephews, Wilder Claude and Piterson St. Fleur, and many other nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Although we will miss seeing her beautiful smile, we take comfort in knowing Gertrude will be smiling down on us all, as our guiding light. May she rest in paradise.

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