Date: Saturday, February 8, 2020
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Abyssinian Baptist Church
132 West 138th Street, New York, NY 10030
(Between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Lenox Avenue)
Parking Lots: 34 West 139th Street or 1 West 137th Street
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Pansy’s Place, a skills-based transitional housing initiative with a healthcare focus. Tax deductible donations can be made to Mentoring in Medicine, Inc., the 501c3 fiscal sponsor at 70 Devonshire Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804
Obituary
Panseta Gloria Anne Gardine, formerly Morrison, was born on March 3, 1944, in Newfield District, Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies. Panseta was the second eldest of four children born to Harry and Hurbilina Morrison (predeceased). She was affectionately called Pansy.
Pansy was educated at the Bethabara and Snowden Primary School in Manchester. She relocated to Kingston where she continued her education at Merlgrove High School. She then attended Fitz Henley Commercial School studying secretarial courses and Saint Andrew’s Technical School for business courses at night. In 1966, Panseta migrated to Brooklyn, New York to continue her education at Long Island University where she studied nursing.
Pansy worked at Dime Savings Bank in Brooklyn, New York for a number of years while in nursing school. After graduation from Long Island University, she worked for over twenty-five years as a Neurosurgical nurse and was eventually promoted to the nurse supervisor for the evening shift in the General Surgery Department where she mentored many nurses and other staff. After retirement, Pansy became a dialysis nurse for a number of years. In 2008, she relocated to Maitland, FL to help care for her ailing mother.
Pansy was the proud mother of two sons, Andrew and Gary. She was a very proud grandmother of three granddaughters, Morgan, Taylor and Gabrielle “Gabby”, and two grandsons, David and Brandon. Affectionately called “Nana” and “Grandma Pansy”, her grandchildren were the pride and joy of her life.
Pansy was a member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York. Even though she relocated to Clermont, FL, she faithfully watched the Sunday service on Livestream.
Pansy enjoyed traveling, especially to Jamaica and Aruba. She treasured visiting family and friends in Jamaica and giving to those less fortunate. She even helped to support many causes including the New Testament Outreach Ministry for Seniors and the Disabled in Jamaica by providing bimonthly donations and any other help that was necessary. She also served as “Mom” to countless women by mentoring, supporting and nurturing them.
Pansy enjoyed gospel and reggae music. She played some golf, tennis and pickleball. She loved walking and traveling by public transportation. She loved bargain shopping especially at Dillards. Since 2000, she began collecting beanie babies of which she has accumulated over one hundred. She collected Afrocentric artwork and Jamaican artifacts. She enjoyed gardening particularly tending to her Hibiscus flowers. Her favorite pastime was playing dominoes and cooking Jamaican cuisine. She absolutely enjoyed eating mangoes.
She treasured family gatherings where she was the consummate host. In addition to frequently visiting family members and friends, she loved celebrating milestones such as recitals, equestrian shows and graduations. She adored her nieces and nephews along with the grands and great grands.
On January 24, 2020, Pansy transitioned at her home surrounded by family listening to her favorite gospel music and her granddaughter, Morgan, singing. She was able to hear prayers of comfort, heartfelt accolades and moving testimonies from many friends and family domestic and international by video conference for six hours the night before her passing.
Pansy leaves to mourn with fond and loving memories her two sons Andrew and Gary; two daughters-in-law Lynne and Denise; her brother Charles (Henry) and two sisters Carmen and Cherry; brothers-in-law Maxwain (George) and Cedric; three granddaughters Morgan, Taylor and Gabrielle (Gabby) and two grandsons David and Brandon; a host of nieces, nephews, their spouses, grand and great-grand nieces (one predeceased) and nephews and so many countless adopted children and friends. Pansy will be forever loved and sincerely missed!
Acknowledgements
The family would like to share our heartfelt gratitude to all of the parties who participated Panseta’s care including the following: Medical Teams at Tampa General and Orlando Regional Medical Center; Vitas Home Hospice; Cedric Johnson; Cynthia Plummer; St. Richard’s Episcopal Church for the beautiful prayer cloth.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of those who supported us with their prayers, flowers and acts of kindness during this difficult time of need. We would especially like to thank the Abyssinian Church Family for their support. May God bless you all!
All are invited to attend the repast to follow the memorial service at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Fellowship Hall.
Poem and Encouraging Words
These words served as an inspiration and were posted on Pansy’s bedroom wall.
There’s no storm that God won’t carry you through.
No bridge that God won’t help you cross.
No battle that God won’t help you to win.
No heartache that God won’t help you let go of.
He is so much bigger than anything you will face today.
Leave everything in His hands and confidently embrace the day knowing that He will take care of you!
Final arrangements by DeGusipe Funeral Home and Crematory in Ocoee, Florida. Catering by JES Distinctive Catering, 1438 East Gunhill Road, Bronx, NY.