Frances Exavier

In Loving Memory of Ms. Frances Exavier
On November 28, 2023, Ms. Frances Exavier (AKA Francesca Exavier, AKA Grann Dada) fought her last and unyielding battle at age 89 by finally catching the proverbial bus that for years she had playfully claimed to "have her bags packed and ready for." In true Grann Dada fashion, she departed just as she lived: fists clenched, head held high, shoulders squared, with the same stubborn streak for which she was so well known. She was never the type to jump ship. She has always left it all on the battlefield and unsurprisingly, November 28 was not any different as she transitioned surrounded by her family. Grann Dada was born and raised in Croix- des -Bouquets, Haiti in January 1934 to the late Genevieve Macenat and Frankel Exavier. She was a fervent Christian and served as deaconess for Eglise Baptiste Haitienne de la Fraternité de Ségur in Haiti and later for Eglise Baptiste Haitienne Bon-Berger de Boston. Grann Dada lived a life of service and was the true embodiment of the phrase " will give someone the shirt off her back." Her favorite hobbies included participating in online prayer meetings (réseau), volunteering for church activities, telling it like it is, making no apologies, and feeding her great-grandchildren " by force and by fire." It was a well-known fact that such great-grandchildren would often seek refuge from her in order to escape her culinary affections.
She may have been the epitome of propriety and decorum to her church family, after all they did make her deaconess twice; but fear not, Grann Dada's kin knew better. No amount of praying, fasting, and church going could mask the hint of mischief in her eyes. To us, she was the comeback kid who never missed an opportunity to speak her mind, a queen of comedy who could crack a joke, throw her head back and laugh herself to tears. If it is true that things get better with age, we are certain that Grann Dada was getting very darn close to marvelous as there was never a dull moment with her through her story -telling abilities.
In the 89 years that Grann Dada lived, she wore many titles, but none brought her more joy than being Great-Grandma. A truly exceptional grandma, she brought unparalleled warmth and wisdom to her role, leaving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a deep sense of loss upon her passing. After boarding "the celestial bus" on November 28, Grann Dada would possibly have had the opportunity to catch up with her pre-deceased daughter Normeuse Valmont and is probably talking the poor woman's head's off right about now.
Left to carry her legacy and memory are her daughter Marie Vania Valmont, her Grandchildren Tia Santos, Darleen Laurent, Diana Laurent, Nadege Negrobar, Johanne Negrobar, Jonathan Negrobar, Ketia Valmont, Danielle Valmont, and Rachelle Charles. Grann Dada will also be remembered by her great-grandchildren Tiarrah Charles, Hayden Augustin, Anastasia Augustin, Gideon Augustin, Leigha Santos, Maia Santos, Chace Thomas, Cyrus Sanon, Kamisha, Taycha, Teven, Thaïs-Aïna, Djovan and Sayan Negrobar. She also held the cherished title of great- great grandma to Gabriella Pagan, Heaven, and Ily Negrobar.
Visitation for Grann Dada will take place at the Weir-MacCuish Funeral Home, 144 Salem St, Malden, MA on Friday December 15 from 6-8 PM. The going away ceremony will be held on Saturday December 16 at 9:00 AM at the Missionary Church of the Haitian Community, 100 Temple Street, Somerville, MA. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett MA with a reception at the Missionary Church of the Haitian Community. To share a memory of Grann Dada or extend condolences to her family please visit
https://www.weirfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American
Cancer Society at : https://www.cancer.org/donate/memorial-giving.html.
May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her memories bring comfort to all who cherished her.
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