Recently Deceased Garifuna Home Attendant Remembered at Harlem Memorial Service
Maryuri Beneditt, 29 Years Old, Succumbed to Injuries Sustained in an E-Bike Battery Explosion and Fire at her client’s apartment in Washington Heights, Manhattan.
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Copyright 2023 by Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a. “Tio Teo” or “T.O. Tayo”) for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved. Contact Tio Teo.
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Harlem, Manhattan, New York City – Family, Friends and Colleagues of Maryuri Beneditt came together to mourn, grieve and remember her at a spirited Memorial Service on SATURDAY, June 3rd 2023.
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The Memorial Service took place at The Manhattan Garifuna Church, who have their services at The Greater Hood Memorial A,M.E (African, Methodist and Episcopalian) Zion Church.
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That Church is located at 160 W. 146th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.
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Miss Maryuri Beneditt was new to the New York City area. Apparently, she moved to New York City from New Orleans a year or so ago.
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I do not know how long Maryuri has been in The United States.
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As noted in a prior article on this tragic death, Maryuri leaves behind three children. She would turn 30 years old later this year.
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While the service was under the umbrella of The Christian Faith, this service didn’t fall under the normal Roman Catholic faith that I am used to amongst the Garifuna people.
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I am used to Services for Garifuna people in New York City being held at Ortiz Funeral Home in the Bronx. Church services, if any, take place around the One Year Commemoration of the person’s death.
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I did not recognize most of the people that I saw in attendance at this Memorial Service, I was told by a cousin of Maryuri’s that that is likely because many of them are new to New York City and perhaps this country.
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This same cousin told me that many of the assembled mourners were from the town of Tornabe, Honduras.
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After the service, I was able to greet and express condolences to two people who I think are Maryuri’s parents. Beautiful people. It’s heartbreaking to see a parent have to bury their child.
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I point out the faith of these Christians. Evangelical. Perhaps, Mennonite to note that growing sect of Christian Garinagu. While most Garinagu are Roman Catholic, a growing number now fall under other sects of Christianity.
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I am unable to list the differences between those of the Roman Catholic Faith and Those that would fall under Evangelical and/or Mennonite Faith, other than to note that Evangelical or Mennonites do not approve of Ancestor Veneration.
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I do not know the Bible verses that support that non-approval of Ancestor Veneration, but I sense that the non-approval of Ancestor Veneration comes down to the fear that Garifuna Ancestor Veneration is linked to witchcraft.
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Ancestor Veneration being a crucial part of Garifuna culture, particularly in the Dügü Ceremony, that non-approval by various Christian faiths can lead to a dramatic conflict for those who are devoted to their faith.
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While I understand that apprehension of Ancestor Veneration in Garifuna Culture, it’s not about Ancestor Worship. It’s about Ancestor Acknowledgement. Paying tribute to people, relatives, loved ones, etc, who lived a full life before you and not forgetting them.
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Teiba Ameragua, Maryuri Beneditt.
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