Vita Johanna O'Brien
(April 12, 1922 - November 5, 2012)
  

 Vita Johanna O'Brien (nee Hannibal) was born on April 12, 1922 to the late Georgiana and Cleophas Hannibal of Stanleytown Village, on the West Bank of Demerara, Guyana.  She was the first of eight siblings.

Vita, Ms. Vites, Ms. V, Sis. Vita, Cousin Vita, Auntie Vita or OB, as she was fondly called, received her formal education at St Marks Primary school, La Retraite, West Bank Demerara .

 

On March 15, 1944, Vita married her persistent admirer, Ivor George Augustus O’Brien, and relocated to the city.  This union produced ten children and over the years, she was contented to play the role of a dutiful homemaker for her husband and kids.

 

 In 1966, Ms. V moved back to Stanleytown with her family.  There, in addition to catering to the needs of her family, she catered to the elderly in the community as well by ensuring they had a fresh loaf of bread every Sunday morning.  Vita was also a devoted deaconess of the Bethesda Congregational Church where she volunteered her services to clean the church and prepare lunch for the pastor on Sundays.  She also held several positions in The Stanleytown Women’s Institute.

 

In 1990, Vita migrated to the USA and continued her matriarch duty by assisting with the care and nurturing of her grandchildren.  She attended the First Wesleyan Church of Brooklyn where she served the Lord passionately until her physical health declined.  She continued to serve the Lord until her passing on Monday, November 5th in Brooklyn, NY.

 

Ms. V, despite being from the traditional generation, embraced technology with a passion.  She went around with her cordless phone and a portable DVD player in a bag.  At 89 years old, she learned to play solitaire on the computer.  At 90, she played ‘word search’ on a kindle fire.

 

Ms. Vites has left to mourn ten children: Juliet, Romeo (Dennis), Ivor (Telbert), Maisie, Jacquelyn, Joan, Keith, Pauline, Cheryl and Yvette.  She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren , eleven great grandchildren, her sisters, Gloretta (Mavis) and Mildred (Bernice), her brothers Festus and Douglas (Hewley), a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law,  sons-in-law, Charles, Clyde, Lyttleton, Dennis and Oswald, daughters-in-law, Magnel, June and Donna, grandsons-in-law, granddaughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, goddaughters and friends.

 

Ms. V was a good woman, strong and steadfast. She loved people, family and friends and they loved her back.  We will all miss her spontaneous wit, her intelligent rhetoric, her fervent debates and her soothing presence.  But her labors on earth are over and she has moved on to higher service.  Her broken, ravaged body is at rest.  The final call came and now she is free and soaring.  She was a good and faithful servant, beloved by all.

 

 Farewell beloved, Farewell.  Rest in Peace!