Hermine Joyce McGregor

Hermine J. McGregor, affectionately known as “Nana,” “Bibi,” “Mrs. Joyce,” “Ms. Greg,” or “Bununoonus,” was born on January 16, 1937, in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, to the late Doris Whitehorn and James Dunn. Hermine passed away on the morning of September 18, 2024, after a long battle with heart disease, and later known to us Dementia.

Hermine migrated from Jamaica, West Indies, to Belmont, Massachusetts, in 1967. She made Cambridge, MA, her home for the next 25 years before residing in Somerville, MA, for 23 years, where she was a member of the Mission Church, Somerville. In 2018, Hermine and her family moved to Stoughton, MA, where she found a church home at the Holy Tabernacle Church of Randolph.

Hermine impressed everyone she was in contact with her amazing smile, which would light up a room and invite you to engage in conversation with her amazing everyone with stories of her life, especially how she ended up in the United States by meeting a couple in Jamaica looking for a homemaker. Hermine was at the US Embassy in Jamaica that morning with all her paperwork as she was initially going to Bermuda. This couple, the Howe's, then brought her to Belmont, MA, where she worked for them and traveled to Cape Cod, MA, during the summer months. Hermine brought up her then boyfriend and later husband, Hopeton L. McGregor, Sr., and they started a family together. Hermine then went on to work as a Medical Aide at Newton Wellesley Hospital, later retiring in 2004. Some of Hermine’s favorite things to do were travel, cooking for and entertaining her many West Indian friends, extensive shopping trips, and betting at the horse race tracks and casinos. Hermine was one among many in the community who welcomed newcomers from Jamaica to the United States by having them stay with her or referring them to apartments in and around Cambridge, cooking favorite dishes from back home like brown stew chicken, rice and peas, plantain, making Sorrel, playing dominoes, listening to music, dancing in the living room and partying and talking late into the weekend nights burning the midnight oil with her many friends.

Hermine was preceded in death by her husband Hopeton L. McGregor Sr. and sister, Verona V. Brown.

Hermine is survived by her five children: Evereth Stephens and Beverley (spouse), Eian Stephens, Hopeton L. McGregor Jr., Andrea McGregor, and Nichole McGregor. Grandchildren: Carl Stephens, Symone Stephens, and Rayna McGregor. Great-grandchildren: Carter Stephens, Calvin Stephens, and Reign Odukale. Siblings: Donna Clarke, Jennifer Dunn, and Donald Ross. Aunt: Lena Nixon, Cousins: Diane Williams and Jarrett (spouse), Donovan Henry and Joyce (spouse), Pauline Wilson, Keith Sankey, Pete Sankey, Steve Foster, and Phillip Foster. Nieces and Nephews: Anthea Brown, Bridgett Smith, Arianna, and Elijah Andrade, and a host more nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, family members, and devoted friends and neighbors.

A Special Thank You to Cambridge Health Alliance colleagues and staff, Beacon Hospice, Dawn O’Reilly and all the family and friends who supported our family during the caretaking of Hermine.

Live stream link provided below. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/G5dxMWEnX2o

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