In profound sorrow we the Management & Staff of Turnbull's Funeral Home & Crematory Services announce the passing of Esonia M. Hassell who passed away Saturday, October 21, 2023.

A devout and active Roman Catholic, Esonia volunteered in the Church Office of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, assisting where needed. From 2004 until 2014, she worked on the Church Restoration Committee, assuming responsibility for all outreach communications and donations. Esonia was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and served as Vice Regent from 2009 to 2014. She also served as a member of the Women's Magnificat Ministry and served for 8 years as the Treasurer. In 2014, Esonia was one of two recipients of the sixth annual Key and Sword Award, wherein members of the Catholic Community were recognized for extraordinary commitment and selfless dedication in service to others. Every Sunday, until Hurricanes Irma and Maria when she temporarily relocated to Georgia, Esonia attended 10:30 a.m. mass with her grand-daughter Jerae, sitting devoutly in front of the Mother Mary. Professionally, Esonia worked with the late Jane E. Tuitt, former Commissioner of Education as her Executive Secretary as well as with the late Earle B. Ottley, former President of the Legislature of the USVI. It was Earle B. Ottley who asked her to develop and design a new educational arm, The Virgin Islands Board of Education, which she built from the ground up, then became the longest serving Executive Director, retiring after 32 years of service.

Esonia was preceded in death by her husband, Louis A. Hassell. She is survived by her children, Dr. Lois A. Hassell-Habtes, Louise A. Hassell-Armstrong, Lorayne A. Hassell-Webb, Laura Anne Hassell, Dr. Lisa A. Hassell-Forde, Louis A. Hassell II and Major General Renaldo Rivera; sister, Norma O. Walters; sons-in-law, Dr. Yegin Habtes and Jean A. Forde; daughters-in-law, Florine Hassell and Diane Rivera; sisters-in-law, Rita Watson, Mary Monsanto and Alda Monsanto; brothers-in-law, Rawle Watson, Sr., and Ezechiel Walters; nieces, Trevore Monsanto, Stephanie Hernaiz, Sheila Monsanto, Janet Monsanto-Hanna, Anna Malone, Marsha Malone, Monic Malone-Doyling and Rose Monsanto, Stephanie Smith, Hazel Roper, Beverly and Joycelyn Roper; nephews, Glen Roper, Anselmo Roper, Stephen Monsanto, Edwin Monsanto, John Monsanto, Boyd Monsanto, James Monsanto, Shelton Smith, Rawle Watson, Jr., Ray Watson, Ronald Watson, Reynaldo Watson, Ryan Watson and Radley Watson; grandchildren, Shanese Armstrong, Julius E. Armstrong II (Shanell), Schantel Armstrong, Dr. Sennai Habtes, Dr. Imnett Habtes-Wilkerson (Demond), Stephen Webb II, Esonia Webb, Jerae Allyson Forde, Jean A. Forde II, Nicolette Hassell, Louis A. Hassell III, Krystal Rivera, Chantal Rivera-Brown, Khion Rivera and Lanique Rivera; great grandchildren, Anaya and Kyla Mark, Sarai, Jai and Julius Armstrong III, Jhauna and James Westbrook III, Dallas and Dominique Cash, Zenn, Bryce and Cruz Wilkerson, Luca Abreu, Simaya and Raiya McDougal, Giovani and Kaelin Browne, Lenaiya Rivera; Cousins Neomie Monsanto, Shirley Monsanto, Beverly Monsanto and Beverly Plaskett; adopted daughter, Erma Skelton; adopted sons, Bishop Jerome Feudjio and Father Louis Kemayou; adopted grandchildren, Amunet McDonald, Shamari, Sharifa and Charaine Skelton; very special caretakers, Daina Bellot-Raphael, Daren Mark, Matthew A. Nelthropp, Laurel Milton and Beanka Beechan. Esonia was blessed to have had the DeChabert and Schjang Families, Elskoe and Lockhart Families, Lola Schjang, Armelle Ferdinand, Rita Schuster, and Lillia King in her life.