Ms. Pierrena Annilus, 1980-2010
Administrative Assistant (Haiti)
Pierrena Perrin Annilus, a national of Haiti, was serving as an Administrative Assistant with the UN 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 UN. 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 UN 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 UN 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 UN 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 UN 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-Amérique, both in Portau Prince, and completed many UN 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.