Ingrid Judith Declet was born in King's County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York on April 21, 1967. She was the youngest of three children, born to the late Hurme Ena McCalla-Declet and the late Antonio Alberto Declet.
One day, a few months ago, with her daughter, grand-daughters, sister, nephews and nieces, piled high into a car, Ingrid Judith Declet drove to a skating rink, where she donned a slippery pair of four-wheel rollerblades. With her signature “yes!” and clapping of her hands, she took off, skating around the rink like she was a kid again. She rode with expert precision- never falling, never failing, always smiling.
Ingrid often spent her days off from work with her family- visiting them, talking to them and making sure that everyone was alright. She had a warm smile, an inclusive personality and an incredibly infectious laugh. She was a joy to be with and would always lift your spirits when she was around you. Down to earth and sensitive, she was always willing to lend a hand to family and friends in need without hesitation. Her selflessness made her a shining beacon of hope, not only for her family but for every, single person she encountered in her every-day life. Dedicated, strong, trustworthy, kind, and best of all, nonjudgmental, she loved and accepted everyone for who they were and for who they could become.
From her silly dance moves to her intense concentration when learning something new, Ingrid mastered something that few people ever will- she mastered the ability to stay Present. Always in the here and now. “I'm fresh. I'm fresh and popping”. Her optimism and ambition led her to explore many different careers:
In 1989, she began working for life's W.O.R.C., inc. assisting people with developmental disabilities and autism. This job helped hone her natural gifts of empathy and selflessness. Ingrid became a “buddy” to many who may not have had one otherwise.
In 1997, she began working for Delta airlines. During this time, she bought her first home, later using this newfound independence to move across the United States, leaving New York for Georgia, continuing her work with the airline. An injury to her shoulder forced her to step away from Delta; an intervention from fate forced her to step away from love; the economy forced her to take steps back to look at her career; and God forced her to start over and over in many different ways. Throughout all that trial and tribulation, a gorgeous vision of who she wanted to become began to ripen. This awakening came slowly (as it does for most of us) but unlike most, Ingrid never ran away. Instead, she laced up her sneakers and began to chase it down, refusing to ever let it out of her sight. This pursuit looked something like this:
With her extreme love of vehicles, Ingrid set her eyes on earning her CDL license and in one, quick sweep (that actually took months of hard work on the road), she became something that no one ever saw coming– Ingrid became a truck operator. This lead her to work for such jobs as Swift Trucking company and a leading cement company in the metro area of Georgia.
She started going to school for medical terminology, where she worked tirelessly to complete a degree at the age of 45, which she did with style, grace, and charisma. Ingrid became a college graduate.
After moving back to New York, returning to her roots, her home, Brooklyn, she began driving for access-a-ride, picking up the elderly, handicapped or people who were otherwise incapable of getting from one place to another without her help. She became the “right-hand man” to many. A role she would inhabit many times over: getting school children from one place to another working as a school bus operator and getting your packages where they need to go while working for UPS. She later said “to heck with that” and moved on to working for Greyhound. She was on a roll! Literally.
She continued gaining new-found friends, with whom she would make jokes and smile with, over breakfast in far away states before heading back on the road. Working for Greyhound brought Ingrid great peace and joy because it granted her the freedom to explore.
Just a few short months ago, Ingrid earned her position with a company that she had hoped and worked towards for a few ears. Perhaps one of the toughest jobs in the entire world- she was proud to become a New York City Transit Bus driver. Requiring bravery, resilience and a whole lot of patience, this job ensured that Ingrid was well on her way to assuming her final, badass form.
Her highest and proudest accomplishment would come from her beautiful, only daughter and best friend, Octavia: the birth of her grand-daughter, Enjensi, A blessing that she would receive twice more with Neenah and Dolliah. With her G-girls in tow, she became the greatest Grandmother ever!
Through all of this, we have to believe that what we become on this Earth does not disappear when we go, but is forever etched on the minds, bodies and souls of those we have loved, inspired , or simply given a ride to. Take a moment right now and locate just one place that Ingrid lives within you. Say thank you and always remember to take care of that space.
On Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017, Ingrid Judith Declet was called home, joining her mom in the Kingdom of heaven, leaving her legacy to be carried on by her only daughter, Octavia Declet-Howell; her three grand-daughter's, En-Jensi, Neenah, and Dolliah; her sisters, Karen and Yvonne; her brother-in-law, Gary; her five nephews, Rayvon, Jason, Nicossie, Israel, and Ayden; her two nieces, Nifa and Dasia; her grand-nephews, Xavier and Adrian; her grand-nieces, Kiara and Jayla. Along with her aunts, Yournie, Inez, and “aunty” (Lilda); and uncle, Ralford. As well as a host of cousins and friends.
Today, we will not only celebrate her life, but her laugh, kindness, and the vision of herself that she worked so tirelessly to pursue. A vision that she never let get away from her. Every, single day she hunted it down, never denying her doubts or her fears but always trusting her heart and an indescribable feeling that we call faith (a complete trust in something that we cannot see). Faith in God, faith in her family, and most importantly, the faith that being just who she was, was exactly who she needed to be.

We all love you. You will be with us every day. Always.

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