Mary Angela Rey (Angie), an Anguillian who touched the lives of many persons in Anguilla, St. Maarten and St. Thomas, is one of those persons who, now deceased, will long be remembered by all who came into contact with her during her lifetime.

She was one of those beloved and industrious Anguillian nationals who sought employment opportunities outside the island; earned much respect for their hard work and noble quality of life; and eventually returned home to make a marked contribution while still enjoying a productive life.
Angie was born on February 6, 1939, to Victor and Ethel Rey of Deep Waters, Anguilla, and was the last of eight children. She eventually had seven of her own. Following the birth of her third child she migrated to St. Maarten where she became a popular seamstress and established a close and greatly-cherished relationship with many persons over the years.

Driven by a growing ambition and the need to take care of her immediate family as a single parent, she left St. Maarten for St. Thomas in 1966, leaving the majority of her children in Anguilla and one in St. Maarten. She worked as a housekeeper, seamstress and upholsterer at various establishments in the US Virgin Islands including Canel Bay, the VI Hilton Hotel, American Carpet at West Indian Company, Little Wood Shop, Rogers Electric and The Cloth House.

In 1999 Angie returned to Anguilla but not to retire. She completed her dwelling house at Deep Waters which had remained unfinished for 30 years; engaged in apartment building; continued her long sewing career; took on a demonstrative love for cooking for special occasions and became a popular and much sought after baker of various delicacies. She also found much pleasure in gardening with particular love for flowers.

Angie was a noted religious and spiritual person, serving as a Deaconess at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church. She also assisted in organising weekly group luncheons there and regularly cooked for the men engaged in the construction of the church building.
“She was very ambitious, determined, positive, independent and self-sufficient,” her children said in a well-written eulogy. “Once she had a plan in her mind, she never stopped until her goals were accomplished. She was always pleasant and shared warm smiles with all who were in her company…Mom has touched many lives throughout her seventy years on earth and developed many friendships wherever she went. She will be remembered for her kindness, words of encouragement, soft-spoken [voice], friendliness, helpfulness and her gentle and loving manner, among other things.”
Angie passed from this life on September 11, 2009, in the United States where she was receiving medical treatment. The funeral service, a celebration of gratitude for her life, was held at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday, September 27, followed by interment at the Sandy Hill Cemetery. The officiating Ministers were outgoing Pastors Danny Philip and Carl Hastings. It was one of the largest funerals at the church in recent times.

The Anguillian offers its condolences to the bereaved family.

Mary "Angie" Rey

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