Sarju Persaud

Sarju “Budsie” Persaud’s Obituary

After a lifetime of hard work to improve the life of his family, our grandfather, Sarju “Budsie” Persaud (Nana to us) succumbed to his illnesses on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at the age of 84. He was born on December 30, 1932 to Bisoone Kayee and Sokrani Persaud in Lusignan Estate, in Guyana, South America. He had one sister, the late Mrs. Parbatie Bhimsen who raised him along with his Aunt (Phuwa) and stepmother after he lost his mother as a baby.

Nana had very humble upbringings. His parents worked as sugar estate workers. He attended primary school in Buxton. At 22, he married Mahadai Mattai (Nannie) the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paramsuk Mattai in 1954–rice farmers and millers, of Hague backdam. They had five daughters and worked assiduously as grocers to secure a middle class life for them. The family lived in Courbane Park, Annandale. Both Nana and Nannie started their long work days securing produce in the early morning hours to sell at a stall in Stabroek Market in Georgetown and would also travel to different open air markets as Mahaika market along the East Coast of Guyana.

Our grandparents left their business in Guyana and immigrated to the United States to seek a better life for their family in 1980—Nana was 48 at the time and willing to start all over in a new country. The family first moved to Chicago, Illinois, but found their home in Brooklyn then Corona and finally in Jamaica Estates, Queens. Nana worked multiple jobs to secure a life in New York for his family. He eventually obtained a job at the Home Box Office (HBO) building as a security guard in Manhattan where he was known as the mayor of the building—it seemed, everyone knew Sarju and he knew everyone. Nana retired in 2005 after 21 years.

As a grandfather, he was a consummate presence at all our birthday parties, graduations, weddings and other life events. He always advised that we study and achieve academically, often speaking of his struggle to improve the life of his family. Nana also believed anything was possible in America, often touting how someone can come with nothing—as he did—to this country, work hard and save enough to buy a house and establish a good life for their family.

In his free time, Nana watched World Wrestling Federation, (WWF), Bollywood movies, I-TV and diligently recorded and studied his lotto numbers each week. His favorite fights involved Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan. On Sundays, he prepared a religious sweet called Parasaad–which he shared with his family. He had a natural green thumb and lined his stoop in Jamaica Estates with pots of tulsi, tyme, tomatoes, tropical flowers and anything he desired to eat. He also loved to fix cars.

After numerous visits to the emergency room over the last few years and various nursing homes, Nana’s body was overcome by his Dementia and he passed away at Stony Brook University Hospital. He is survived by 5 daughters, 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 3 nieces, 3 nephews and 3 brother-in-laws residing in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and Virginia. Although he is finally at peace, he will be missed.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 from 9am-12pm at Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home, Inc., (125 Hillside Ave, New Hyde park, NY 11040), with a cremation to follow at All Souls Crematory in Elmurst, NY. The family will host a viewing on Sunday, October 22, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm.