Belreta

Prince

Belreta was born in Unity, Clarendon in Jamaica, West Indies on January 27, 1926 to Arnold Dunston and Cinderalla Dunston (nee O'Conner).

Her family moved from Unity to Brick Yard, Clarendon when she was at an early age and she attended Wilbury All Age School where she was a good student and excelled in learning.  Her father passed when she was 9 years old and her mother persevered and kept the family thriving.

At the age of fourteen Belreta had a profound spiritual experience and accepted the Lord in her life and thus started her devotion and her lifelong journey as a devout Christian.

She met Richard Prince in 1945 while he was tending to his animals on his newly attained farm and she was on an errand to the post office for her mother.  The two were united in marriage in 1946 and from this union 12 children were born; Arnold, Sonia, Jean (deceased); David (Stephen) deceased); Sarah (deceased); Lillian; Jenny; Catherine (Peggy); Daniel; Angella; Errol; and Elizabeth.

She was a homemaker as a farmer's wife and they were successful in agriculture and animal husbandry. She and her husband owned and operated a general store for groceries and sundry items for those in the community.

Belreta also started an early learning program for the young children ages seven and under in the community who had not yet reached the age to attend the local school system. In addition, she simultaneously operated an adult literacy program for those who had not had the opportunity to learn to read and write when they were of school age.

In the 1960's she converted from the Pentecostal faith and began her journey as a Seventh-Day Adventist. This solidified her belief in observing the Sabbath and keeping this day as a day for devotion to her faith and observing strict dietary guidelines. She shared these beliefs with her husband, Richard, and their children. She would continue her path of giving spiritual counsel to those in need of guidance in their lives and she did this for believers of diverse Christian backgrounds.

She moved to Kingston in the early 1970s and worked as a seamstress and gave her children, who had not already immigrated to Canada and the U.S., the opportunity to experience a slice of "town life".

In 1983 she immigrated to the United States to reunite with her oldest daughter, Sonia, and oldest son, Arnold, along with her daughters Jenny and Catherine (Peggy).  She worked as a childcare and eldercare worker when arriving in the U.S. to assist in sponsoring her additional children to join her and their siblings. Her husband, Richard Prince, passed in 1984 and she remained a widow.

Once her remaining children were able to reunite with her in America she purchased a home along with her daughter, Catherine (Peggy) in Paterson, NJ.  She lived in this home along with her daughters, son, grandchildren and additional family members for over 30 years. She retired from caregiving at the age of 65.

In June 2020 her home was destroyed by a fire caused by the alleged negligence of workers in an adjacent property that was being renovated.  She and all family members residing in the house were rescued and miraculously survived.

Belreta then moved to the home of her eldest son, Arnold, in Toms River, NJ.  She lived her remaining days being cared for by caregivers and family members.  Belreta succumbed to complications after suffering a stroke on May 12th, 2023 and passed on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023.

Belreta is survived by two remaining sisters who both reside in the United Kingdom, Dottilyn and Edna. Her siblings who preceded her in death are Deleta, Javan, Novigna (Sarah), Vernal, Irene (Dolly), and Walter.

She is survived by her son Arnold (Andy), her grand-children and (great-grand children) and (great-great-grand children) as follows Joanne, Andrea (3) (2), Roselyn (2)(3), Millicent (Sandy) (4), Errol (Mark) (5), Judith (Zhii Zhii) (4), Donna (2)(3), Natasha (6); daughter Sonia—grandchildren Michelle & Kevin; daughter Lillian—grandchildren Maxine (3), Dayneman (Richie), Omar (2), Kimberly (3), Alicia (Lisa); daughter Jenny—granddaughters Jenetta, Victoria, Veronica(2); daughter Catherine (Peggy)—grandchildren Joseph (2),Tina (2); son Daniel (1); daughter Angella—grandchildren Duane (2), Andre (1), Chekisha (3), Salome; son Errol --grandchildren Romeo (4), Romaine (3), Vania; daughter Elizabeth—grandchildren LaCadia & Christopher.