Aleen O

Watson

Aleen "Sunshine" Watson, a woman whose faith, loving spirit, style and smile were as radiant as her nickname, died on Christmas Eve surrounded by her family. She was 55.

Aleen's/Sunshine's family and friends will forever remember her as a woman who maintained a sense of wonder and childhood innocence even in her final moments, and whose boundless energy, kindness and faith in Jesus and the Bible carried her through even the most challenging times.

Aleen/Sunshine lived a life of service to others and created family everywhere she went - with her beloved husband, Wayne Robert, and children, Latoya Roberta, Dwayne Robert & Dane Robert Watson (all of whom survive her, along with an infant grandson, Adam Robert Watson); her congregation at Community Seventh Day Adventist Church (especially her bonus Son Jahnoi); and the people she partnered with as a caretaker and nanny for many years. She was known for making friends with anyone and everyone - even people standing next to her at the supermarket. She never knew a stranger and made sure to make everyone around her feel loved, welcomed and included.

Aleen/Sunshine was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica to an incredibly large family to her surviving mother Euleita McDonald & deceased father Joseph Gayle and had more than 20 siblings. Her siblings were Evon, Clover, Sadie, Denise (deceased), Jibril, Stafford, Patricia, Sandra, Colette, Kenneth, Delroy, Derrick, Royston, Michael, Marlette, Dian, Janice, Courtney, Migonnonette, Angella, Audrey (deceased) & Doreen (deceased). Other relatives including, aunts, uncle, cousins, nieces and nephews . It was also in Jamaica that she met the love of her life, Wayne Robert, on the Sabbath Day, and had two of her three children. She journeyed to America at age 27 - alone - to build a better life for her family. While she was trained as a fashion designer and incredibly skilled as a seamstress and dressmaker, she took work as a nanny because it was one of the few careers available to her as an undocumented immigrant. Fortunately, she was a natural at the job, and so successful that she was able to bring her husband and two children to the states. After they were reunited, Aleen/Sunshine and Wayne grew their family with a third child.

Through her life, her sense of style remained unmatched, and she encouraged everyone around her to embrace their own individuality. Her children credit her with making them strong, gracious and confident adults. She would also go to great lengths to maintain levity even in the darkest of times, and her family and friends will forever remember her silly faces and hilarious antics. She was truly a beam of sunshine.

Aleen's/Sunshine's belief in Jesus Christ and the Bible shined through in her commitment to her church. She was deeply grateful to the Community Seventh Day Adventist Church for helping her in her journey to America, and gave back to them in so many ways - as head of the hospitality committee, a Sabbath school teacher, and master guide. The church was her second home and so very close to her heart and soul.

Her memorial service will be held at the Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church she loved so dearly on Sunday, January 22nd 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 245 Tenafly Rd in Englewood, NJ 07631. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, January 22nd 2023 at 3:00 PM at the same location. A burial will be held on Monday, January 23rd 2023 at 11:30 AM at the Hoboken Cemetery at 5500 Tonnele Ave, North Bergen, NJ 07047.

Friends and family are invited to attend and to send flowers to express their sympathies and to wear bright colors in honor of Aleen/Sunshine. Her daughter, Latoya, will also be working to set up a Family Crisis Fund in her honor with the church to help other families in need.