Jeretta Testman

Jeretta Testman, beloved mother to Adrienne (Aviance) Chaparro of Brooklyn, NY, passed away on December 1, 2024, leaving a void for her family to fill.  She was born in Brooklyn in 1953 to the beloved Adrienne Testman and was the first of eight children.  She studied at the Fashion Institute in New York City and graduated with her associate degree.

Jeretta loved learning, sewing, cooking, quilting, and long talks, but she especially loved family. The skills she acquired during her time in school were used to spread joy to people by designing clothes for events, costumes for performances, and just for fun. She loved music and she originally joined the choir at Saint Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church and sang at the Christian Cultural Center.  When she moved to Delaware, she joined the Calvary Church of Dover and was a part of the Creative Department, and she performed in plays and sang.  In her later years, she continued to pursue quilting, where she joined a quilting club and entered competitions.  Quilting brought her joy, and she tried her best to ensure everyone in the family had a quilt from her.  Jeretta was a people person who could converse with anyone to understand who they were and what brought them joy.  Jeretta just enjoyed life and people.

Jeretta started her career as a Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide at Willowbrook Development Center. She transferred to the Brooklyn Development Center and worked in a classroom as a lead in teaching daily living skills to people with developmental disabilities at work and also conducting trainings for staff members.  She spent her time and talent organizing formal affairs, such as an event for donations of gowns and suits, which were used to enhance the quality of life for the clients at the facility.  After being promoted to the Director of Staff Development, she retired and began traveling to various countries. 

Jeretta was a devoted mother to her only child, Adrienne, who was her pride and joy.  They shared many fond memories such as screaming through horror movies which Jeretta talked through anyway, dancing to Motown classics in the living room, and the love for collecting things.  She also instilled a love of teaching and an appreciation of education in her daughter, which poured over to home-schooling her children.

Jeretta was preceded in death by her mother Adrienne Testman and brother Raymond Lopez and survived by her daughter Adrienne, Son in Love Onorio, and her four grandchildren Jeremiah, Ariana, Isaiah, and Elisha.  Siblings: Heywood (Janice), Johann, Anthony, Antonio, Anna (Gerard), and Jacqueline.  Her nieces and nephews:  Josiah, Malcolm (Jessica), Isaac (Naomi) Samantha (Inkhie), Neshla, Dessalines, Rashida, Kareem, Jahmelle, Satier, Nyasia, Gerard II, Gerard III, Raymond, and Yolanda.  Her day one sisters Jeannette and Elise. Her treasured friends George, Dorothy and Lisa and a host of cousins, great nieces and great nephews who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

The family will receive friends Monday, December 9, 2024, from 1:00pm until 2:00pm.  Funeral Services follow at 2:00pm in the funeral home chapel.  Live stream of service will be available from the link below.

<<<<<<<<<<<  LIVE STREAM    >>>>>>>>>>>>