Rayelle “Ray,” “Tae-Tae” Naidine Tutein
April 13, 1954 – August 27, 2025
As the sun descended into its slumber beneath the horizon on August 27, 2025, our beloved mermaid — Rayelle Naidine Tutein of #7 Old Hospital Ground, Christiansted — gracefully transitioned to the other side.
She was born on April 13, 1954, to Muriel Austin-Tutein (ah Hillsider) and Fritz Phillip Tutein “Pahwolf” (ah Gallowsbayrian). Along with her parents, awaiting Ray’s arrival by the seashore, were her beloved siblings Lloyd K. Austin, Phillip, and Preston Tutein.
Ray leaves behind her three sea urchins, raised with salt, sass, and plenty love — Akido Damani Walcott, Annelle Knight and Alea Navarro — who cared for her and carried her to the low tide on her final voyage.
She swam through life surrounded by the love of her Grand Reef: Anasia, Anthony, and the accountant of her sea chest, Amaud Encarnacion — each bringing color, wonder, and awe to the Sea. In Ray’s vibrant Grand Reef also rest her little clam shell: Rohit Goeptar Jr., her youngest grandchild, and Ariya Milan Joseph, her little sea pumpkin (great-grand).
Ray survived every storm with her red and white mangroves always standing guard at her shores — her older sisters, Lillian Jacobs and Sharon Elien-Tutein — and her soldier crab dem: Barbara Venetis, Lorraine Motta, Nancy Ayala, the Byron family, Donna Ventura Benjamin, Miguel Encarnacion and Cyntoine Francis-Schjang. Alongside them were two who stood especially close to Ray, her queen conch-niece and seahorse-nephew, Karisma and Kristepher Elien — who kept watch with devotion and love.
Also standing guard were her siblings Diane, John, Wayne, Fritz Jr., Audrey, William, Fitzroy, Adrian Tutein, Micheline Tutein-Baptiste, and Evelyn Wilkinson, together with their many queen conchs, seahorses, and seashells — her nieces, nephews, extended family, and countless friends too numerous to name in her vast, loving sea. All woven into her living reef, as she now rests in her seagrass bed in peace.
The family invites relatives and friends to gather in celebration at the Altona Lagoon Pavilion on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 2 to 6 p.m., to share memories and say so long to our dearly departed and beloved mermaid, Rayelle “Ray,” “Tae-Tae” Naidine Tutein. Guests are invited to dress as vibrantly as the colors of the sunset at sea, in comfort, to honor her free and lively spirit.
St. Croix Source
Deaths
