Home Going Tribute to a Humanitarian: Nurse Madame Nancy Douge’ by Mr. Edmund Zar-Zar Bargblor, Sr.

Mankind, down through the ages has come the cry for knowledge and more knowledge. Around us, everything is changing and nothing seems permanent and fixed. The mountains crumble away, the rivers dry up in the Sahara Desert, and cease to flow, islands sink and new seas are formed.

The great oaks, in all their majesty must succumb to transition, to change, or death. Man goes on his way and crosses the borderline into the unknown and seems to end his existence in the twinkling of an eye. Is there any part of man, therefore, or any part of nature, that is immortal, unchanging permanent and conditional? 

Still, there was always the quest for knowledge and the desire for answers to problems unsolved. Why are we here? Who are we? Whence have we come? And where do we go? Is this personality of ours, this individuality which we strive to build up through idealism and the elimination of undesirable traits, merely a temporary or imaginary creation of us?

I met Madame Douge’ in Washington, DC, while pursuing my graduate studies at Howard University. I was deeply impressed with her level of intelligence, especially her critical analysis on both local and national political issues.

Nancy Douge´, nicknamed Nun Nun, was the first born of Alourdes Sejour and Jules Douge, born on April 14 , 1958. At the age of 7, Nancy moved to New York City, from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. With a passion to be of service to others, she pursued Nursing and was able to receive her Bachelor of Science , from Howard University in 1985. She had two children, her first, Nayisha. Sixteen years later, she had her second daughter, Nahila.

Nancy worked as a Nurse, over 20 years in the prison system, focused on nursing wayward adults and children. Healing was Nancy’s ministry, and she spent most of her free time, helping her community , as an advocate for nutrition and wellness.

Nancy’s mission was to spread the Art of Healing individually, to family, communities, and the nation. She volunteered weekly at a community food pantry and catered nutritious hot meals to individuals living on the street. She was also a member of Abundant Life Health Association, which demonstrated creative ways to make lifestyle changes with plant-based recipes and fitness initiatives.

After retirement, Nancy moved from Georgia to live near the beautiful sandy beaches of Florida, with her youngest daughter, Nahila and granddaughter, Violet. The last hours of her life, she spent most of her time praying and deep meditation. On July 5, 2023, after her usual church service, she shortly made her peaceful transition ( death) at home, with both of her daughters at her side. She battled with breast cancer for seven years.

Nancy left behind two daughters: Nayisha, Nahila, and granddaughter, Violet. She survived eight siblings: Mario Sr, Katia, Evans, Sherley, Patrick, Najla, Joan, and Clifford. She had many nieces and nephews: Nadia, Nedine, Kanena, Mario Jr, Illiana, Peggy, Jendayi, Sky, William, Shevana, Brandon, Willardy, Jaida, Sebastian, Christian, and Aston.

Let me close with the following eulogy verse:
“Nature it seems stands on its head
When you mourn the loss of a great lady
Today we remember her life with us
The years of laughter and fun                                            ,
We’re thinking of all the times that we shared.
  And though we are bowed with grief
Today we celebrate the great woman we once had
Because it is our firm belief
That her life enriched us in so many ways
Brought sunshine and happiness into our lives
And though we are heartbroken and very sad
Today we admit that we’re also glad.
That we had her, if only for too short a while
Not yet but sometimes we’ll remember and smile.”
MAY HER SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
FAREWELL   GREAT NURSE, MADAME NANCY DOUGE, SLEEP AND TAKE YOUR REST,
TILL WE MEET AGAIN, IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME!!

Mr. Edmund Zar-Zar Bargblor is an Educator. He is a graduate of Cuttington University, Liberia; Howard University Washington, D.C, and Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. He is a former President of the African Catholic Community of Rhode Island and Former Grand Knight of Council 73, Knights of Columbus, Former Deputy Managing Director of the National Port Authority of Liberia, NPA. He can be contacted at: edmundbargblor@gmail.com