For the love of…life in America

interview by Jill Pearson

I was delighted to sit down with Somanie Similhomme (So-mah-nee Sim-ee-home) one Sunday after church in the Fireside Room to ask her about life as an immigrant from Haiti. Somanie, with her beautiful smile, twinkling eyes, and excellent English, opened up about the joys and sorrows of her life in Haiti and America.

Somanie and her sisters were raised for much of her childhood by a non-biological family. They were not Christian and did not attend church, but that did not stop the girls from sneaking to the local church, even at risk of a spanking upon their return! I asked what drew her to the church and she glowingly replied, “The music!” She eventually returned to live with her biological mom as a teenager, and although her mother wouldn’t attend church with Somanie, she would stand outside and watch from a distance.

When Somanie was 17, she became acquainted with a young man at the church named Dessalines (Des-uh-leen). She would come at 6 in the morning to prepare the church for the congregation, and soon a romance blossomed. She married him at the age of 19, and they have been married for 43 years. Dessalines felt a calling on his life to be a pastor from a young age, but it was extremely hard to find work in Haiti. He eventually filled out an application for the United States refugee lottery.

Somanie and Dessalines are the parents of seven children. When their first son was only three years old, he became a victim of violence in Haiti. His death was heartbreaking for the young couple, and they became more determined than ever to emigrate. In 1994, when Somanie was 31, their names were finally selected. They lived in Cedar Rapids until 2003, when a health condition related to a miscarriage brought them to Rochester. Somanie credits her Mayo doctor for fiercely advocating for her care and saving her life.

Somanie is grateful her kids have the opportunity to attend school. That is something she didn’t get the chance to do. But seeing her kids in school and some graduating college warms her heart. Tragically, one of their sons, after graduating from the University of Iowa, was a victim of an unsolved murder. Somanie confessed that she cannot talk about him without crying. “He was so smart.”

Somanie is a cook at Mayo Clinic, and when asked if she enjoys cooking at home, she brightened and said, “Oh yes! I love to cook a Haitian meal of rice, chicken, and plantain.” I asked if she likes it spicy. “Yes, yes, VERY spicy!”

When asked what things bring her joy, she said: meeting new people, sharing smiles, and talking about the Lord. She is so grateful for her family, her husband, and her faith in God.

Somanie and Dessalines have been part of the Calvary family for 5 years and have felt loved and welcomed here. Please be sure to introduce yourself to this lovely lady!