Ms. Pierrena Annilus, 1980-2010
Administrative Assistant (Haiti)
Pierrena Perrin Annilus, a national of Haiti, was serving as an Administrative Assistant with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Police in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Proud of her home country, she was motivated to contribute to its future through the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ. She had worked for the mission for the past three years.
¡°Work was the best thing ever for Pierrena,¡± said one colleague. ¡°She thought Haiti was at peace while the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is there. She never wanted to take any vacation and was always looking forward to being among her co-workers, to hear their opinions and give them advice when needed.¡±
She began working with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and MINUSTAH in 2006 as a translator and interpreter in French, English and Creole. Colleagues talked of her always cheery mood and how she was full of life. ¡°I never saw her mad even once,¡± said one Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ staffer. ¡°She was always, always happy even though life itself at times was hard for her,¡± said another.
¡°I knew Pierrena when she was only a teenager. We lost contact for a while and we saw each other again at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ where I worked in Security Administration,¡± a colleague said. ¡°Her whole future was in front of her. She was very ambitious in a good way, respectful and always positive.¡±
Outside of commitments to her work and country, Pierrena was a loyal friend and had a strong faith in God. Her friends ¡°will always remember how she could be so understanding and sensitive, yet such a fun and active person at the same time,¡± said a colleague.
With her sunny attitude, strong work ethic, faith in those around her and love for her country, Pierrena was considered by friends and family to be a hopeful vision of the future of Haiti.
¡°All of us were so proud of her,¡± said a friend and colleague.
Pierrena received a diploma from the Business Institute of the West Indies and an advanced degree from the Institut Universitaire Quisqueya-Am¨¦rique, both in Portau Prince, and completed many Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ training courses to better her skills.
She is survived by her husband Claude, a brother in New York, and a sister and family in Haiti.