Obituary of Stephanie Deleon Rudder

Stephanie Deleon Rudder, affectionately known as Steph to her family and friends, was born on October 11, 1960, in Cantaro Village, Upper Santa Cruz, Trinidad West Indies. She was the youngest daughter of nine children born to Eltema Deleon and Leo Rudder. Steph attended La Pastora Government School and later pursued a hairdressing course. A natural entrepreneur, she owned a clothing business on the mall in Trinidad, building a loyal customer base and demonstrating a keen sense of business. In 2012, Steph migrated to New York, but her heart remained in Trinidad. She was a resourceful and ambitious woman, earning her living through various sales ventures in Trinidad. Her entrepreneurial spirit allowed her to save enough money to expand her home, fulfilling a wish of her mother's and creating a place for herself and family to stay during their frequent visits back to the island she cherished. Stephanie possessed a genuine love for people, and that love was reciprocated. She was a tower of strength and generosity to all she met. Her exceptional selflessness was truly remarkable, she would readily give anything, even the shirt off her back, to help someone in need. While the word "good" can sometimes sound like an overstatement, it falls short of truly capturing the essence of Stephanie. She was exceptional. Stephanie embodied all the qualities of a genuinely good person: moral excellence, virtue, kindness, friendliness, honor, and worthiness. She was "good" in every sense of the word, and our lives were enriched by her presence. Stephanie's passing leaves a deep void in the lives of her two beloved daughters, Adanna and Jaleesa, and her cherished granddaughter, Nieya, who will miss her tremendously. Siblings: Bunny(deceased), Carol, Anthony, Doloris, Althea, Judy, Linus, and Glen Nieces and Nephews: Nigel(deceased), Maria, Garvin, Stacey, Chanel, Rachel, Rapheal, Chris, Pagie, Stephano, Lexi, Justin, Quincy, Syrion, Siyana and many more Lifelong Friends: Lorna Turpin, Cylann Phillips, Earline Bravo and Louis Collins Stephanie Deleon Rudder was a remarkably brave, strong, and independent woman. She lived life on her own terms, never caring what others thought. For ten years, maybe even longer, she lived with blindness. Many mistakenly believed she was faking it, as she effortlessly managed daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, washing, well everything a full sighted person can do. She adapted to her circumstances fast, learning to navigate the world in her own way. Stephanie would not want her family and friends to mourn her passing, but rather to celebrate her life, a life well-lived. Despite all the pain and suffering she went through, she embraced her journey and would not have changed a thing. Thank you to everyone who played a part in her life and supported her on her journey. She will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on in our hearts forever. I will surely miss you, my sister.