The family of Agnes Lestrade nee Pascal has issued a public message of thanks to all those who offered support and comfort following her passing, in a gesture that reflects the close community ties of the Nature Isle.
In the message, the family expressed gratitude to relatives, friends, neighbours and well-wishers who stood with them during their time of loss. They acknowledged the many acts of kindness shown to them, from visits and prayers to practical help and messages of condolence.
The family also thanked those who attended the funeral service and those who could not be present but kept them in their thoughts. They noted that the outpouring of sympathy had been a source of strength in a difficult period.
Agnes Lestrade, who was born Agnes Pascal, is remembered by her family as a woman who valued her home, her faith and the people around her. The family said her memory would live on in the lessons she taught them and in the love she shared.
The message did not detail the circumstances of her death, and the family asked for privacy as they continue to mourn. They said they were comforted by the support they had received from across Dominica and from members of the diaspora.
In Dominica, public messages of thanks after a bereavement are a common and respected tradition. They allow families to acknowledge the community's role in helping them through loss and to honour the memory of the deceased in a dignified way.
The family's statement closed with a final word of appreciation to all who played a part, however small, in supporting them. They said every prayer, every visit and every kind word had meant a great deal.
Funeral arrangements for Agnes Lestrade have already taken place, and the family has asked that those who wish to remember her do so through acts of kindness in their own communities.
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