Mrs. Marie Claudia Pretto, affectionately called “Tico”, was born on January 3, 1926, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to Salomon Benoit and Icelia Jean Pierre Benoit. Later, she relocated to Ouanaminthe, Haiti before migrating to the United States in 1956, settling in Miami, Florida. Eventually the family moved to New York in 1962.

Claudia attended Washington High School in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti and was a graduate of Nursing School in Brooklyn, New York. She attended St. Albans Congregational Church, where she was a member of St. Albans Women’s Fellowship Ministry. Claudia also belonged to the Highland Church. She joined the knitting club and worked with various church ladies. Her love interests included family, working, knitting, and reading. She also loved passing out tracts to spread and share the love of God on the streets of New York. Claudia hosted Bible studies five days a week. She also used God’s given gift of cooking to feed the hungry weekly. A Missionary in Haiti, along with her husband, a praise and worship songstress and sho nuff prayer warrior and Claudia was a homemaker.

Claudia married Joseph Emmanuel Pretto on March 10, 1949, in Cap Haitian, Haiti, and through this union Joseph gained a daughter, Gisele Victor Mardy. Later, Claudia and Joseph were blessed to add to their family with seven additional children.

Mrs. Marie Claudia Pretto departed this earthly life for her eternal home on February 17, 2023, at Palm Gardens of Pinellas, Largo, Florida.

She is predeceased by her husband, Joseph Emmanuel Pretto, parents, Salomon Benoit and Icelia Jean Pierre Benoit, grandsons, Eric A. Pretto and Lawrence Pretto, great-grandchild, Jeremiah Pretto (son of Eric A. Pretto), sister, Elance Benoit, Erzulie Benoit, Indiana Benoit and Emilia Benoit and brother, Princivil Benoit.

Left to cherish her memories…her sons: Jean David Pretto, Paul Allen Pretto (Hattie) and Harry Ronald Pretto; daughters: Gisele Victor Mardy (Fritz), Roslene Yolene Scott, Marie Nicole Evelyne Benson, Kettely Wilson (George) and Magda Guilaine Dunham; brother: Wannik Benoit; grandchildren: Fritz Mardy, Jr, Gisandre Mardy, Marjorie Mardy, Edward Scott, II, Monica Acosta (Joseˊ), Nicole J. Cannan, Shatimo Pretto, Josephine Pretto, James Otis Benson, Jr., Anthony Benson, Jerome E. Benson, Aneesha Pretto, Fareedah Pretto, Anwar Richardson, Kimberly Speights (Marreese), Anika Pettiford, Antonio Pettiford (Bianca), James Bannister, III, Brandi N. Pretto-Nelson (Daamon) and Xavier Pretto (Melissa); best friend and sister: Ella Pierre, fondly referred to as Laloutte and wife to Josias G. Pierre, AKA Papa Joe; 37 great grandchildren; 25 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.