Lydia M. Duviella

Lydia M. Duviella, age 90, of Lehigh Acres, Florida passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2013 with her loving family at her side. Lydia May Duviella was a classic example of the drive and work ethic shared by many immigrants from the Caribbean. A descendant of the Parris Family of Barbados, she was born in Cuba on June 22, 1922 out of the union of Jeremiah Parris and Hilda Hall. Lydia was the youngest of 3 in a family that included the late Sidney Parris and their brother the late Stanley Parris. The family moved to Jamaica where Lydia grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In 1950 she met and married Carol George Gibbs and they started a family. Vernon was quickly followed by Pauline and Vesper. The family immigrated to Brooklyn in 1956 where Jonathan and Peter were born. In 1960 Lydia became a working mother and was joined by her own mother Hilda and her husband John Campbell. Together they purchased a house and devoted themselves to raising their progeny in a turbulent and fast changing era. During that time, Lydia earned her degree as a Certified Nursing Assistant and began working in local New York City hospitals. She often had two or more jobs in addition to selling Avon products and simultaneously managing several local susu banking clubs. While employed, at St. Lukes Hospital, Lydia met Gabriel Duviella whom she married on her retirement in 1992. She moved to Lehigh Acres and helped start the Lehigh Acres Seventh Day Adventist Church, built by her brother Sidney. Lydia and Gabriel lived happily in Lehigh Acres until Gabriel's death in 2008. Having developed Alzheimer's, Lydia was cared for by her children Pauline and Vesper in their homes in Detroit and Boston until finally when she could not travel any more was cared for in her own home by Peter and his wife Delisa with the help of Jonathan. Needing full time professional care Lydia was moved to Oakbrook in Labelle and continued to spread joy to all even in her diminished state, bouyed by the unconditional love of family and friends who visited often. Lydia passed away on March 17, 2013 after a brief illness. She is survived by her children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, great-grandchildren, cousins, nephews, nieces and spouse, grandnieces and grand nephews, inlaws and many friends from Lehigh Acres Seventh Day Adventist Church and Hanson Place Seventh Day Adventist Church in Brooklyn which she attended for over thirty years. Lydia was a staunch, unwavering Seventh Day Adventist for all of her life and went to her rest secure in the belief of the Resurrection and eternal life. A Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 6:00- 8:00 PM in the Chapel at Anderson-Patterson Cremation and Funeral Services, 2701 Lee Boulevard, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971, (239) 368-7080. A Funeral Service will be celebrated at 2 PM on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at the Lehigh Seventh-day Adventist Church, 190 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres, Florida 33936. Entombment will take place at 11:00 AM the following day, Monday March 25, 2013, at Lee Memorial Park Cemetery, 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, Florida 33913. Those who wish to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time are urged to visit Lydia's memorial webpage at www.andersonpatterson.com and sign the guestbook.

Lydia M. Duviella

June 22, 1922 - March 17, 2013