Ena Isona McDiarmid

Matriarch

Born in Jamaica West Indies Ena Isona McDiarmid grew up in rural Jamaica (country). With siblings, cousins and lots of extended family members she grew up knowing the fundamental basis of family...sharing, loving and perseverance in challenging times. After her partnership with Wilson Chang and five children in Jamaica, she migrated first to England, followed by the United States, where she resided at 3117 Broadway...a place many came to know as home (Apts. 10 & 54). She worked in the garment industry where she retired as a Designer. In her 60’s she raised 4 grandchildren as her own (Godfrey’s children). She is responsible for the migration of dozens of nieces and nephews to the United States. Her generosity, warmth, and caring earned her the endearing name "Aunt Ena". She is a Matriarch of her time earning the respect of hundreds. She lives on in the spirit of her offspring. In her later years she suffered the lost of short term memory and later crowned "Angel" as Pulmonary Fibrosis led her to her last breath. She lay to rest in Deerfield Beach, Florida, near the home of her eldest daughter Norma.

A woman of great grace, poise, determination and success are words to best describe Ms. Mac. Even now she appears in our dreams and thoughts still counseling us in time of need. She is often felt in her "never mine mi dear" or "this too shall past" or "that's for the birds". When you see one of her kin stand with great strength, confidence, or speak with clarity and appear to be unbreakable it is simply because they were made by Ena.

She is "Grandmother, turned mother and mother turned friend, the rock of Jabrolta, a Vision of Strength".

Precious Lessons in Ena’s Words:

“out of 10 deeds done to you, remember to take the 1 good deed, to cover the 9 wrongs a person has done to you, and treat them out of that, and you shall be blessed”

“family drums don’t beat hard”

“que serra serra, whatever will be, will be”

“God bless the child that has his own”

“a penny earn is a penny saved”

“when I’m dead and gone, remember what I have taught you, no one lives for ever”

“remember the son who bit off his mother’s ear, because he had ears to hear and she did not teach him”

“love thy neighbor as thy self”

“don’t worry my child, come my son”