Wednesday, July 8, 2020
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Jocelyn Ida Huggins Magalhaes (March 9, 1929 – July 4, 2020) was a beloved wife, daughter, aunt, cousin, in-law and friend to many and a longtime Floridian. Both industrious and fun-loving, Jocelyn was an entrepreneur, bookkeeper and fitness studio worker before her retirement. She enjoyed many happy years with her husband of 62 years, Francisco (Francis) Emanuel Magalhaes. Together they enjoyed tennis, travel, gardening, their retail clothing business and doting on their cat Tiger.
Jocelyn was born to Owen Walter Huggins and Ida Beatrice Corsbie Huggins on March 9, 1929 in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. She was joined by a brother, David Walter Huggins, in November 12th of the following year.
She spent her formative years in San Fernando, Trinidad, West Indies, where she attended Naparima Girls High School. After marrying in 1953, Jocelyn returned to the United States with Francis to start a new life. While the couple enjoyed New York City, they longed for a life that reminded them more of their time in Trinidad (which they visited frequently). In 1983 they left the Queens borough of New York for Sarasota, Florida.
While in Sarasota, Jocelyn and Francis started a business specializing in textiles for resort, casual and beach wear. After the business closed Jocelyn spent time taking loving care of her mother Ida until her passing in 1998, the same year that brother David passed.
The couple moved to Weston, Florida in 2005, where they enjoyed life together until Francis’ passing in 2015. In 2019 Jocelyn moved to Davie, Florida. An avid cook for many years, Jocelyn took comfort during her final years in reading cookbooks, playing puzzle games on her iPad, watching cable news and Masterpiece Theater shows, and entertaining the many visitors who came by her apartment to enjoy her wit and gracious company. She was known to bid farewell to people who called or visited with the following advice: “Be good. No actually, forget that. Don’t be too good. Have fun and enjoy your life!”
It’s fitting that Jocelyn departed this world on Independence Day, because although she was deeply connected to those she loved through the bonds of family, marriage and friendship, Jocelyn was also a true free spirit who enjoyed life to the fullest on her own terms. She was free in life and now she is free in heaven.
Jocelyn is survived by her nieces Sheryl Huggins Salomon and Gail Huggins Porter; her nieces by marriage June Murphy, Lois Thomas, Judy Preudhomme and Raquel Murphy Dodd; her brothers-in-law and their wives Leo and Kay Magalhaes, Herberto and Florence Magalhaes; her sisters-in-law Carmen Magalhaes, Betty Magalhaes, Rita Stanley and Maria Mercado; her former sister-in-law Angela Huggins Crockett; and many more loving relatives, in-laws, friends and home aides who cared deeply for her.
