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Obituary
BWH mourns the loss of Melitane Joseph, a dedicated patient care assistant on Tower 14CD, who passed away April 7 after a sudden illness. She was 44.
Her colleagues remember Ms. Joseph for her contagious laugh and the compassionate patient care she provided during her seven years at BWH.
“She loved life and always tried to make life easier for others by asking if there was anything she could do to help,” said Patricia Dabel, a fellow patient care assistant who worked with Ms. Joseph for the past six years.
Born in Haiti, Ms. Joseph immigrated to Boston in 1992 and settled in Mattapan for 14 years before moving to Brockton and finally Randolph last year. After her arrival, her dedication to better herself and her family led her to attend night classes and acquire a GED. A few years later, she completed a nurse aide’s course and came to work at BWH in 2002.
Ms. Joseph also was a passionate dancer often found teaching others on the unit a dancing step or two. “She was always saying ‘It’s all in the hips,’” said Dabel.
Above all, Ms. Joseph’s compassion and dedication to patient care served as an example to other PCAs on the unit, said Claudie LaFrance, patient care assistant.
“She was a caring person who always put the patient first,” said LaFrance.
Pat Aylward, MS, RN, nurse manager of 14CD, remembers the many times patients requested that Ms. Joseph be their patient care assistant.
“She was sensitive to patients’ needs and always did everything with a smile.” said Aylward. “The most amazing thing is that she never asked for anything in return.”
Ms. Joseph is survived by her husband, Henri, and her teenage children Louson, Paulina and Kimberly.
A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held on May 20, at 12:30 p.m., in the Shapiro Breakout room. Everyone is invited to attend.