Philippe Chatelain hail from Gonaives, Haiti. He served as mechanic in the Haitian Coast Guard prior to emigrating to the U.S. in 1970. After arriving in Miami, he moved to Spring Valley, New York to be near his brother in-law. Eventually, his wife, Marie and their 3 children joined him in New York in 1975.

Philippe was a very hard working man. He worked very hard to make sure that his family always had a roof over their heads and food to eat. While he was still in Haiti, he would often forgo taking the paid transportation, so he could save the money to buy necessities for his family. In other words, he walked several miles home to Cite Militaire from LaVille (the main city of Port-Au-Prince).

Philippe lived to served others. His greatest pleasure was derived from helping others. No matter who it was, whether, he knew them or not, if they needed help, he would step in. God gave him a giving heart and he ran away with it.

Philippe is survived by loving wife, Marie Therese Chatelain, his sons Anderson Chatelain, Billy Chatelain and daughter, Kerlyn Chatelain-Graham, grand children, Markeiss Chatelain, Cassavian Chatelain, Tyler Chatelain, Taylor Graham and Philip Graham, 4 great-grand children, his brother, Bonhomme Chatelain and several cousins, nieces and nephews.