Joseph M. Barthelus

joseph barthelus

November 15, 1935 ~ January 13, 2021

Born in: L'Artibonite, Haiti
Resided in: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Beloved husband, father, grand-father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, Joseph M Barthelus was born on November 15, 1935 in Dorbeille at L’Artibonite, Haiti. He was the fifth of 8 children to Cenou Barthelus and Elouina Louisnord.

Joseph grew up with his 11 siblings St Pierre, Vernick, Eliphise, Enou, Marc, Marinette and Chesnel as well as paternal siblings, Odiel, Herisse, St Jean, and Solange.

He was affectionately known to everyone by his middle name, “Monfils” which translates from French to literally mean “My Son”, was also affectionately called by most “Boss Mon”.

Joseph completed his schooling in L’Artibonite. After High School, he went to a trade school and became a professional tailor who specialized in men’s suits. His passion for tailoring encouraged him at a young age to start a business and he opened up his own shop where he finely crafted and sold men’s suits. He was a successful businessman who excelled in his craft and business and was well sought after.

Joseph would later emigrate to the US in 1970 and settled in Brooklyn, New York where he worked several jobs to ensure a good life for his family. His entrepreneurial spirit was still ever present when he decided that he would own his own medallion while being a New York City yellow cab driver in Manhattan. He was the true meaning of a hard worker, often leaving his home at 5am to return well after 10pm to ensure a steady income and a comfortable life for his wife and children.

Joseph was a kind man who commanded any room he walked into He was generous with his time and everything he had. Always opening doors and his home for anyone that needed help building their own upon coming to this country including extended family, friends, and church family. People would often count on him for a ride to and from the airport. He was a founding member at his church, Freres Unis, where he served as treasurer, deacon and at times usher. As the patriarch of the family, he continued to instill the importance of family values, wisdom and the importance of helping. You could always count on being greeted with a hearty hello from Joseph. He always exhibited a calm and cool demeanor. Joseph could always be counted on to stimulate your mind with the depth of his insight, lively conversations and you could count on every conversation as being a lesson. If you had the pleasure of conversing with him you looked forward to the dialogue because you knew it would be filled with a wealth of wisdom, insight and various tidbits of knowledge.

His tireless love and devotion to his family were evident even in his final moments where he could be seen taking extreme delight in his grandchildren when they tried to teach him some new things.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marie Eliana & their seven children, Ketty, Seymour, Astrel, Choubert, Huguette, Vertini and Sandy, and Erline, his daughter; his grandchildren Karltz, Hans, Fedjah, Shakir, Isiah, Daniel, Kristyan, Tary-Ann, Warren, Quincy, McKenzie, Gabryelle, Isabelle, Justine, Shariff, Alyah, Jordin, Briana, Mikaela, Guirlande, Venia, Wendy, 10 great grandchildren, and a plethora of family and friends that will miss him dearly.

Joseph Monfils Barthelus lived a long and prosperous life May his soul– Rest In Peace!

Services

Visitation: January 23, 2021 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel
1031 Lawrenceville Hwy.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046

770-277-4550

Funeral Service: January 23, 2021 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel
1031 Lawrenceville Hwy.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046

770-277-4550

Interment:

Gwinnett Memorial Park
925 US Highway 29 S
Lawrenceville, AG 30046

770-962-7630
www.gwinnettcemetery.com/

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Guestbook

  1. CandleImagePlease accept our warmest condolences, we are deeply sorry for your loss.
    We are sending you strength to get you through this difficult time. With love

  2. CandleImageThe loss of a love one is never easy, but know we are with you all through your grief
    May his soul rest in peace

  3. CandleImageDeepest condolences to my dear friend Ketty and her entire family on the passing of her father. May he rest in peace.

  4. CandleImageDeepest condolences.to the Barthelus family. My uncle. was the rock for Marc. and I .I will for ever grateful we love u guys

  5. CandleImageGrand-papa no words cannot explain how much I love you I’m so glad and love you were and still are my grandfather I’m proudly to call myself your grand daughter it pains me that I can’t see your face sadness looking at your face and smile in picture????????????????????i love you so much we love you so much not a second pass by your daughter Erline Barthelus don’t have tears in her eyes for many reasons…????????????????????but she loves you I have always told you that every time we had conversations or see each other????????????????????????????????????????????we love you so much.

  6. CandleImageDeepest condolences to the Barthelus’ family on the passing of their beloved Boss Mon. Please know I am by your side during this time of sorrow. May he rest in peace.

  7. CandleImageMonfils and I shared so many memories; from our youth in our native country of Haiti to the US and back again. I have found memories of going to his family’s home during summer breaks to share a hearty meal and all the fun we would have. When I migrated to the New York I didn’t a lot family here but Monfils made sure to take me under his wing, showed me around making sure that I always had some change pocket for bus fare so I could get around; he always made sure that I was not alone or lonely. Then in our winter years as we retreated back to our homeland I got the chance to reconnect, we’d often visit each other’s homes and reminisce about the old days. God even allowed me the privilege to bless him the way he blessed me so many years ago with friendship, grace and compassion. When I think of Monfils the words that come to mind are: love, compassion, charity and hospitality. Although he is absent from the body, his memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who’s ever had the honor of knowing him. To his wife and children and extended family please accept my deepest condolences, I wish I could be there with you, but know that I’m there and stand with you in spirit. May his soul rest in peace.

  8. CandleImageOur sincere condolences to Ketty and the whole family! May you be comforted knowing that your beloved dad Rest In Peace!
    Mirlande Butler

  9. Ketty, may the Lord wrap his arms around you and your family as you mourn the loss of your Beloved Dad.

    My sincere condolences.

  10. Bonjou map sali madann BARTHELUS AK TOUT FANMI AN MIN SITOU VERTINE ZANMIW SA FEM MAL AMPIL PAKA LA MIN KONNIN KOMAM SANTIM FREM KIMBE LA KOURAJ MOMAN SA YO PA JAMN FASIL NOU PAKA JAMN FINN ABITYE AVEK YO VRE KE BONDYE KONTINYE BENI NOU YON SEL FANMI TON SEL AMOU FREM

  11. CandleImageIt is with love that we sincerely offer our condolences. We pray strength, comfort, and patience for your family as they press their way through this trying time. May he rest in perfect peace.

  12. Masaj pou fanmi BARTHELUS SITOU MADAME BARTHELUS NOU KONNIN KE MOMAN SA TRIS AMPIL NIM PA DEKOURAJE ZANMIW VERTINE OU KONNIN TOUJOU KONSIDERE KOM YON FREM NOU PA ZANMI SA FEM MAL AMPIL PAKA LA AVEK YO FREM LANMO PA DOUS MIN SWETEW POU JWENN AMPIL GRAS NAN MOMAN POU NOU KONTINYE LITE OK FREM YON SEL AMOU

  13. I pray that the Lord comforts the Barthelus Family during this difficult time as we mourn the passing of Joseph. My prayer is for the Lord to embrace the family with His loving arms and bring the family great peace and comfort! With deep & sincere sympathy,
    Levelt Datilus & Family

  14. Lamercie Barthelus Brasier & Family
    In this time of sorrow, we find comfort knowing that my uncle was wise enough to be a servant of the Living God.
    He had a long and prosperous life with his loving family, he will never be forgotten. May the good Lord help us all to apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90: 12

  15. CandleImageMy Grandpa was a wonderful man of God. He was dearly loved and respected by many. May his soul find rest with the Holy Father until the day of resurrection. May God give us comfort in this time of sadness. Rest in Peace Gompa 🙁

  16. CandleImageWe send our love and prayers
    To all of you. May God comfort all of you during your time of sorrow.

  17. CandleImageDeepest condolences to Ketty & family our hearts are with you in this time of grief.

    1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

    Marjorie & Kenneth Maxwell

  18. My heart is with you,Joseph M.Barthelus family,in this time of sorrow.
    Please accept our warnest condolences.We are deeply sorry for our loss.
    Barthelus Clautes,family.

  19. CandleImageMay our Lord comfort you and your love ones. I know that what you are going through right now is very difficult. I am very sorry for your loss, I would to offer barthelus family our deepest and most sincere condolences and may the soul of my grandfather rest in peace.

    • CandleImageMay our lord comfort you and your love ones I know that what you are going through right now is very difficult. I am very sorry for your loss . I would like to offer barthelus family our deepest and most sincere condolences and may the soul of my grandpa rest in peace.

  20. My condolences to Deacon Monfils from Eglise de Dieu des Freres Unis and his family. He was truly a great man and a great man of God. From What Pastor Fenel had told us, he was one of the founders of Freres Unis who made great sacrifices for us to be where we are now as a great Church. We truly miss you Diacre Monfils
    We love you ????????????????❤️❤️

    Rest in Peace

  21. CandleImageWe are so thankful and honored to have been in the presence of such a generous soul, who is loved and revered by so many. In this time of bereavement we send our love, and prayers of strength and resilience to his wife, children, grandchildren and family. We pray that God be with the Barthelus Family as they continue his legacy of generosity, love, hard work, and perseverance in the face of adversity. May is memory live on in the hearts of those who knew him, and may he forevermore Rest In Peace.

  22. CandleImageFrom our hearts to the Barthelus family. Please please know that although we are way in New Jersey, we will to send our prayers up the our Lord for the strength and support of each family members. Stay bless and know that we are thinking of you.

  23. Pastoresse Paulette Barthélus.
    Tonton Monfils Barthélus was my surrogate father until I met mine in Africa, his brother Vernick that he cherished dearly.

    He was a peaceful and cheerful soul. God has granted him a face that never frowned even when he was sad.

    Indeed, God gave Tonton Monfils specific mission on earth that he fulfilled with integrity. It is partly due his vertuous wife Eliane being behind him. She exposed him to the gospel by “walking the talk”. As a result he became a deacon and started a church in Brooklyn, NY.

    My uncle was a family man and a good husband to tante Eliane. As a devoted father, he dedicated his two story home in New-York to shelter his children and stabilize their lives as they get married.

    In addition, Tonton Monfils is the success story of our family. Back in Haiti, he was a skillful taylor and owned a convenient store.

    In USA, his entrepreneurial skills converted into owning his medallion, a house and commercial appartments elsewhere.

    Furthermore, my uncle endurred political persecutions. As a child, I have witnessed his dreadful scene. Early in the morning, a few days after Huguette’s birth, mercenairies barged into his bedroom and arrested him for no apparent reason. I was thinking “I don’t have a dad anymore”. For, they snatched him from his bed and had him walk an hour away to be incarcerated.

    But the devil is a lier! God was with him in the lion den and in the furnace. “Pa mangnin pitit Bondié-a wa boulé”!
    No news of him for a long year, our family thought of the worst. But one happy day we heard that he miraculously fled to a Caraibean island, then emigrated to America.

    So he overcame because it was written in heaven. Whenever my uncle evoked those awful memories, I asked him like God told the Israelites: Where are those who were persecuting you? Tonton you are more than a conquerer!

    Back in 2019, he told me: Paupau fō-w vin nan antèman-m oui. So to eulogise him and sing. I told him that I will, and that only God knows who he will claim first. Recently his health problems took a toll at him. Now he is with the Lord where he will suffer no more. For the bible says: “Blessed are the saints in the Lord, they are resting from their labors. Their works shall follow them”.

    “Ce n’est qu’un aurevoir”, Tonton Monfils.
    Que la terre te soit légère.
    Pastoresse Paulette Barthélus

    • Sur demande de ceux qui ne parlent pas l’anglais, j’ai dû traduire mon oraison.
      At the request of non English-speakers, I had to translate my eulogy.

      Tonton Monfils était un homme paisible, choisi par Dieu pour des missions qu’il a exécutées malgré les courbes périlleuses de sa vie.
      Il fut muni d’un visage qui ne palissait jamais même quand il était triste. C’était un père de famille modèle. Il consacrait sa maison de deux étages à stabiliser ses enfants à la suite de leurs marriages. C’était aussi le point de repère de notre village à Brooklyn et mon pied–à-terre à mon arrivée à NY en 1979.

      Sa femme Eliane à ses cotés l’avait imprégné de l’Evangile en combinant la théorie à la pratique (she walked the talk”). Devenu diacre, il a érrigé une église à NY nommée “Les frères Unis”.

      Mon oncle fut persecuté à plusieurs reprises et avec acharnement par des mercenaires politiques “les Tontons Macoutes”. J’en fus témoin occulaire. Tôt le matin, des ravisseurs firent irruption dans sa chambre après la naissance de sa fille. Ils l’ont arraché de son lit et l’ont fait marcher des heures pour être emprisoné. Très jeune et basourdie, je me disais “Je n’ai plus père, que vais-je devenir?
      Pas de nouvelles de lui pendant une longue et pénible année. Ma grand-mère gardait a sa taille deux cordes nouées à sa taille: l’une pour lui, l’autre pour mon père. Deux fils qu’elle savait qu’elle ne reverrait jamais jusquà sa mort.
      Puis guidé par Dieu Toton Monfils s’est dirrigé vers une ile Caraibéenne de façon périlleuse. “Satan est le père du mensonge. Min li paka détrui moun ki guin sô Bondié sou yo. Durant tout ce tumulte, sa femme vertueuse (des Proberbes 31) Eliane assurait la posterité et la stabilité de la famille (de 7 enfants) avec ses maigres moyens.

      Tonton Monfils s’en est sorti miraculeusement, car Dieu était avec lui dans “la fournaise ardante et dans la fosse aux lions”. Puis,
      un beau jour, le bruit courrait qu’il serait à NY où il s’est stabilisé. Quand Tonton Monfils évoquait ses souvenirs avec moi, je lui demandais comme Dieu disait aux Israelites: “Koté moun ki tap pèsékité-w yo? En effet, ils s’étaient tous évanouis en fumée bien avant lui. Tonton tu fus plus que vainqueur.

      En Haiti, Tonton Monfils fut le tailleur expert de notre village et il possédait une boutique (un dépaneur) aussi. Arrivé en Amerique il a gouté au rëve americain.. Ainsi, ses talents d’entrepreneur de sont concrétisés par l’acquisition d’un médaillon, de la construction d’appartements en location en plus de sa maison résidentielle.

      Mon oncle cherissait sa famille élargie aussi, ‘il mettait toujours de coté un peu d’argent pour aider aux funerailles des moins fortunés. “Moin pa vlé yo palé fanmi Barthélus mal”. Joseph Barthélus fut mon père subtituant jusqu’à ce que j’aie connu le mien au Mali (Afrique). Son frère Vernick qu’il chérissait beauccoup. De concert avec mon père, il fut aussi conteur de l’histoire des Barthélus durant nos diverses réunions de familles à NJ.

      Tonton Monfils m’avait dit en 2019 ” Paupau fô-w vin nan antèmen-m oui” Je lui ai dit que oui, mais que seul Dieu savait qui de nous partirait le premier. Maintenant il est parti vers son Dieu dans la gloire. Il a combattu le bon combat et sa courounne lui est réservée. Car la bible dit “Heureux les saints dans le Seigneur. Ils se reposent de leurs travaux”. Leurs oeuvres les suivent.

      Ce n’est qu’un au revoir tonton Monfils. Que Dieu ait ton āme et que la terre te soit légère.

      Pastoresse Paulette Barthélus

  24. CandleImageTo my aunt Éliane, to all my dear cousins and to all who have been touched by tonton Monfils, please accept my sincerest condoleances.

    While I am sad that tonton Monfils is no longuer with us and sad to see your devastating pain, I can only marvel at the legacy that he left behind; his loving and numerous familly and the vast community that his love built. While we mourn his passing, let’s remember him for how he lived and how much he loved you.

    Love you,

    Thierry (Vernick’ son and Paulette ” little” Brother.)

  25. Though I walk through valley low, I fear no evil, because the Lord is in the valley with me, to comfort me, to reassure me, to renew my failing strength. May the Lord comfort you all.


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