Monique Patricia Aiken

Monique Patricia Aiken affectionately called Toni-Ann was born on August 3, 1996 at Mandeville General Hospital Jamaica West Indies to Kirk Patrick Mark Anthony and Avril Angela Gayle-Aiken. She is the eldest of three children for her mother. On Thursday November 24th 2016 she made her transition into eternity from complications due to sickle cell disease at the Jackson Memorial Hospital after being admitted there for a long period. Monique spent the first three years of her life living in Jamaica and Grand Cayman with her parents and at times her grandmother (who pre-deceased her) and aunts. She later migrated to the United States to live with her mother in April 2000. She attended Plantation Elementary, Trade Wind Middle, Congress Middle and Boynton High School. Due to her illness Monique was frequently absent from school and sometimes spent two to three weeks in any given month in the hospital. She was an ardent worker, ambitious and was determined to accomplish success at all cost. She maintained an “A” average throughout her tenure at every school she attended. Her illness prevented her from graduating Elementary and Middle School but in May 2014 she attended her 1st graduation from Boynton Beach High School. She was overjoyed and move on to further her education at the Palm Beach State College. Here she maintained an “A” average in all the courses she took and was able to complete. She was determine to fulfill her aspiration of becoming a Pediatric Cardiologist. Sometimes she would be frustrated in not being able to continue her education as she hoped due to her hospitalization and would say “I am the only 20 year old without a degree, this is not me!” Monique embraced life and never allowed her illness to dictate nor limit her ability to live or function as any normal child. She loved her family and believed in going beyond the limit. She resented being thrown a ‘pity party’. She was kind, caring, responsible, headstrong, talented, a very good cook, considerate, adventurous and a natural leader. On December 25, 2011, she surrendered her life to Christ and was baptized in the name of Jesus. She loved God and served as a member of the New Life Community Church International of Fort Lauderdale Choir. As a member of the Choir, she never gave in to the pain she endured during a sickle cell crisis. She would sometimes be singing on the choir during Sunday Service and even though it was evident that she was in pain when asked she would say “I’m okay,” but then leave after church for the hospital where she would be admitted. She leaves to cherish her memories her mother Avril, Father Kirk, sisters Felesia (Abby), Shawna, brother Allen, grandmother Pastor Z. Aiken, 13 aunts, uncles, a host of cousins (too many to count), church family, and a lot of other relatives and friends.

Monique Patricia Aiken

August 3, 1996 - November 24, 2016