Obituary of Una J Samuels

Una Johnson Samuels, “Aunty” as she was affectionately called, was born on May 08, 1937, in the Bethany district of St. D'Acre in the Parish of Saint Ann, Jamaica, West Indies. She was the youngest of eight children reared by Thomas and Francis Johnson. Foiled by a birth certificate error that listed her birthdate as the 8th of August, Una was fond of celebrating her birth twice a year. Una went to infant school until age 7 and then attended Bethany Primary; She often said she could never forget the name of her hometown. It’s named after the place where Jesus performed his first miracle and raised Lazarus from the dead. Her father cultivated and her mother was a housewife. Raised by a very strict father, Una and her siblings carried water for miles and took care of goats, pigs and chickens each morning and evening while attending school. On Sundays, they spent all day in church and Sunday school. Una started to work when she was 15 years old for 10 shillings per week. Eventually, she found a job at a cottage in Mammee Bay, Jamaica. During that time, Una gave birth to 9 children but tragically lost one while she was several days old. Una was determined to create a better life for herself and her children. She dreamed of building a house where she could live and welcome her children and grandchildren. On March 5, 1972, Una immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 35. It was a very difficult and lonely time in a strange new place, but she passed the time sewing and crocheting beautiful blankets and quilts that would later become family keepsakes and heirlooms. A year after she returned to the U.S. from attending her father’s funeral in Jamaica, Una found a new live-in position that allowed her to surround herself with other Jamaicans with whom she could socialize and become friends. Una would be haunted by two early failures that she believed made her life more “bitter than sweet” at times. She failed her GED final test by a mere four points and never managed to pass her driving tests. These two things limited the way she could move around the world and take opportunities that came to her. However, later in life, Una would attend nursing assistant school and graduate first in her class. Her teacher encouraged her to continue on to get her nursing degree. But she declined, choosing instead to celebrate that two of her daughters had become nurses in their own right. Una met and married Ira Samuels in 1980. She then began to shape the life she had always imagined she could have by filling her home with family and friends. She was known for hosting monthly family birthday celebrations with her famous coconut cake. Una always puts the needs of others above her own. She was the problem solver for many of her friends and believed she could have been a counselor in another life. She cosigned for cars; helped people earn credit as needed; loaned money; supported her friends and extended family in coming to the U.S.; and provided others with a home-base from which to start their new lives. Her proudest achievement was ensuring that all of her children could immigrate to America and create the life they wanted for themselves and their children. She survived breast cancer twice. In 2007, Una came to see God as her source. She proudly declared that “he is my savior, my all in all. Without Him I would not be able to make it this far. He has blessed me so much. He has healed me from breast cancer 15 years ago and also from different illnesses. So, I can truly tell you that God is a healer and a deliverer, without Him I would be so lost.” She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira; daughter Audrey; and son Alstead. Una is being sent to rest by her surviving sister Florence “Darling” Kidd; her four sons Lindsay, Malcolm (Bernice), Vincent (Brenda) and Devon (Debbie); her three daughters Nola, Phyllis, and Yvonne (James); her former daughter-in-law and confidant, Doreen Chang; and over 40 grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and cherished friends and extended family.