Louis Marie Anglade Joseph, Sr.
December 3 rd 1950 – January 5 th 2026
Louis Marie Anglade Joseph, Sr.—known affectionately as Doune, Papi, Kow, Mon
Oncle, Bò Frè, and Dadou—was born on December 3, 1950, in the southern Haitian city
of Les Cayes, the same town as the Cayes Cathedral and Collège Philippe Guerrier. He
was the seventh of thirteen children born to his parents, Neceda Luxama and Avenor
Joseph. He spent his early years in Jean-Sac (town in Les Cayes, Haiti) but attended
school in Mersant, walking an hour and a half each way every day. Alongside his formal
education, he learned woodworking in his father’s shop, mastering the craft of furniture-
making. The school in Mersant ended at the “Certificat”, equivalent to the fifth grade.
As a teenager in the 1960s, he joined a music band with his brothers and discovered his
love for the saxophone—an instrument that remained his favorite throughout his life.
In 1970, at age 20, Louis left Les Cayes for Port-au-Prince, where several of his
siblings—Catherine, Gislaine, Yvane, Jarnel, Ewald, and Rigal and his parents were
already living. Under the guidance of his older brother Jarnel, he began learning
construction. He often told us that he learned a new skill every day on the job site:
bricklaying, plastering, pouring concrete—everything. Once he mastered one skill, he
quickly moved on to the next. He learned new skills so quickly that he would say “Nèg
yo te konn ap di ke mwen gen pwen sou mwen. M pa okipe yo,” (“The guys would say I
must have supernatural powers, but I paid them no mind”) - He would say that with
pride. Quietly dedicated to self-improvement, he also continued his education at the
Philadelphia school in the afternoons and studied architecture and civil engineering by
correspondence through Unieco in Belgium.
Around 1971 or 1972, at just 21 years old, he met a young, beautiful woman named
Nicole at his brother’s house. After watching her for a while, he asked, “If I ask your
mom for permission to take you to a concert tonight, would you like to go?” She said
yes, and they spent a wonderful evening together.
For the next six years they enjoyed their youth together—going to movies, beaches,
parties, and concerts. They married on October 28, 1978, and later welcomed two
children: Regine in 1979 and Louis Marie Anglade Jr. in 1982. Louis supported his
family as a civil engineer and architect.
In 1986, the family faced their first major challenge when Nicole made the difficult
decision to leave Haiti for the United States. For five years, Louis lived as a single father
during the school year and worked tirelessly to send Regine and Louis Jr. to visit their
mother each summer. The family was reunited in 1991 in Boston, MA. A year later, in
1992, Louis and Nicole welcomed their youngest child, Nicholas, becoming a family of
five.
Transitioning to life in the U.S. was not easy. Louis had to rebuild from the ground up.
Unable to work formally as a civil engineer or architect, he took on small contracting
jobs for friends and family, building and remodeling bathrooms, kitchens, porches.
Home Depot became his English classroom; for every project, he learned the English
names of the materials he needed. In 1997, at age 46, he undertook his largest
renovation project yet: converting his own newly purchased two-family home into a
single-family residence. While attending school and working, he spent ten years
completing the project. He earned his GED from Roxbury Community College and later
trained to meet U.S. standards, earning electrician certifications and various
professional credentials at Wentworth Institute of Technology.
In his later years, he could often be found rebuilding and remodeling his beloved Range
Rovers or driving his wife to work —one of his favorite daily rituals and fixing things
around the house. He became a proud Grandpa and loved to spend time with his
grandsons Louis III, Ari and August.
After a twenty-month battle with cancer, Louis passed away peacefully on January 5,
2025, at 1:15 a.m., surrounded by his family.
Louis leaves behind his pride and joy: his wife, Nicole; his children, Regine, Louis Jr.,
and Nicholas; and his grandsons, Louis III, Ari, and August. He is also survived by his
siblings Catherine, Yvane, Ewald, Gislaine, Rose Marie, Leonard, and Rigal, as well as
countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A devoted father and loving husband, a loyal brother and friend, and a cherished uncle
and grandfather with a heart larger than life, Louis loved fiercely and lived boldly. He
met every challenge with strength, dignity, and unshakable courage—and he fought
valiantly until the very end, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and honor that
will endure for generations.
Family and friends are invited to attend the viewing hours on Friday January 16, 2026 from 6-8 PM in the Joseph Russo Funeral Home, 814 American Legion Highway, Roslindale, MA. A Funeral Mass will be on Saturday January 17, 2026 at 9 AM in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1548 Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan, MA. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery, 500 Canterbury Street, Roslindale, MA. 02131