Carmel Benjamin passed away in her home on May 30th, 2025 at the age of 67.
Carmel Benjamin was born on August 29 th 1957 at the Chance Rel Hospital in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. After living the first few years of her life in Haiti, through the efforts of her mother Marie Eunide Laurent, Carmel immigrated to Massachusetts in 1972, and continued her education at Medford High School. After High School Carmel attended Boston College and graduated in May of 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in French Language Studies. As God would have it, Carmel met her husband Carmelo in church just before she began college, but they did not begin dating until shortly after her graduation. They married a few years later and began their life together on September 4th 1983. Carmel was always dedicated to serving and helping others and began her working career as a caseworker at Fernald Development Center in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Despite suffering a serious workplace accident, which prematurely ended her working career, Carmel’s passion for helping others never faltered and she grew actively involved in the work of her communities.
Carmel’s faith always served as her guiding principle in life. For example, she was a founding member of a Seventh Day Adventist church prayer group that held regular meetings at the home of one of the group members. Through the faith and dedication of Carmel and her prayer group, the prayer group eventually blossomed into multiple churches in the Greater Boston area - namely Temple Salem and The Philadelphie SDA churches. Carmel was a pioneer member of The Philadelphie Church, which originated at the Saint Louis' home in Medford, MA. The church eventually moved to Cambridge, MA, with meetings on Mass Avenue, then moving to Magazine Street, before moving to Main Street in Malden, MA in May 1991, where the church still exists today. Carmel was a constant driver of the church’s overall growth and development, and dedicated her life to assisting church members and their families arriving from Haiti to re-settle in America. Each successive church move brought on an increased level of involvement for Carmel within her church community, where she served as the Community Service Director, Youth Director and Pathfinders Director. Notably, during her time as the Pathfinders Director, she attained the rank of Master Guide and helped countless participants progress through the program as well. Carmel’s dedication to service did not require any sort of title as she was simply and undoubtedly the motherly figure to an innumerable number of youths that came through both The Philadelphie and Temple Salem churches. Carmel truly lived a life dedicated to prayer and fulfilling her God given mission of service to others by spreading the gospel every day.
In addition to her faithful service to God, Carmel enjoyed singing as a member of "Les Optimiste" and the Church Choir. Carmel also maintained an interest in health and wellness, annually organizing large groups of people from several churches to participate in the Walk for Hunger. She encountered some health difficulties in her later years of life, and as a result
rededicated her time to the study of natural and holistic remedies and supplements to help her work through such health issues. Carmel thus regularly spoke to the people in her life about dietary changes to improve health and overall body function and performance. She truly saw it as a blessing to have been present for and assist with the unanticipated home birth of her granddaughter Kenslee.
Carmel was preceded in death by her Father Osse Jeudy and Sister Myriam Polydoros. She is survived by: Husband Carmelo, three children - Charleen, Kerlenz and Marlee, Ishmael Jean; granddaughter Kenslee; Mother Marie Eunide Laurent; sisters Kerlley Aime, Elsie, Margaret and Catita Jeudy; brothers John Augustave, Jean Gedeus, Jean Brady and Kirby Jeudy; nieces
Nathanaelle Jeudy, Janelle Augustave, Medora Saint Louis, Elise Polydoros, Shayla, Laurissa and Simone Foley, Imani and Sarai Gedeus; nephews Javon, Naeem and Jaylin Augustave, Kabelo Saint Louis, Patrick Foley, Zaire, Zavier, Zandon and Karell Gedeus; and a loving family of extended friends and numerous loved ones whose lives she touched deeply.
Carmel was a true and faithful servant of the Lord and had a lasting positive impact on those that came into her life, whether in person or through the multiple prayer lines she was an active participant and facilitator of. She was a dedicated and committed mother not only to her children, but also to any and all children in need. Carmel’s devotion to prayer and belief that God’s presence always guided her in all circumstances remained a steadying force throughout her entire life.
As quoted in Matthew 16:24,25, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'” Carmel embodied this sentiment and lived a full and impactful life in the service to the Lord.
Carmel will be sorely missed by her family, friends and loved ones and her memory will indeed live on!
A celebration of Carmel’s life will be held at the Philadelphie Seventh-day Adventist Church, 575 Main St, Malden, on Friday, June 13th from 9 AM to 12 PM. Relatives and friends are warmly invited to gather in prayer and remembrance. Services will conclude with burial at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. All are welcome to join Carmel's family at Anthony’s Banquet Hall, 105 Canal St., Malden MA 02148, from 2:45 PM to 5:00 PM.