Monica Thora Scott
Monica Thora Scott of Silver Spring, MD, passed away March 13. Mrs. Scott was born on June 25, 1941 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad to Bertram Chasteau and Inez Cummins. Ms. Cummins often described raising then Monica Thora Chasteau as a joy. She was a daughter who gave no trouble, taught herself to ride her bicycle and played piano to the delight of passersby on Quarry Street who would stop to listen. Monica attended Holy Name Convent for high school, and after graduation, briefly taught elementary school before leaving the island in 1964 to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. At Howard, she studied Spanish and quickly fell into the Caribbean community, meeting people who would become lifelong friends. Also, at Howard, Monica met fellow student Nigel Scott, who overheard her giving out her phone number to a friend in front of the library and took the chance to call. Initially taken aback, Monica agreed to go out with Nigel; the two were married in 1970 and raised three sons. In 1976, Monica began working as an administrative assistant at the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. There, she became known for dishing out advice to co-workers. She retired from the Conference in 2006. Monica often spent her free time watching sports and when she watched sports, the whole house knew about it. She would often jump, scream and applaud in support of the Redskins, the Lakers and Manchester United. Mrs. Scott stayed active throughout her adult life in the Washington, D.C. Trinidad & Tobago community, regularly attending and helping to organize fetes and community activities. In her later years, she took a special joy in her six grandchildren. Monica Scott is survived by her beloved husband Nigel; her three sons, Duane, Omar and Rion; daughters-in-law, Tracy, Tara and Sufiya; and her grandchildren, Nia, Samaadi, Zavier, Maya, Sasha and Madiba. Relatives and friends may call at Grace Episcopal Church, 1607 Grace Church Road, Silver Spring, MD, Saturday, March 23, 2019, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Funeral Service follows at Grace Episcopal Church at 11:00 AM. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and the Parkinson’s Foundation.