Excerpt from The Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, September 26, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
We said farewell over recent weeks to the genius of broadcast media Francois St Juste, the gentle Sister Mary Carmen Chen of the Religious Sisters of Mercy and Fitzgerald Casserly, my late father’s business partner in accounting.
I can tell you that Francois was a beautiful blend of his mother Margarietta and his dad Franklyn ‘Chappy’ St. Juste. I remember during Carifesta, Merrick Needham giving instructions to Margarietta about guests coming from abroad in a strict tone, while Margarietta just smiled, nodded and kissed him on top of his head. She found fun in every situation. Chappy lectured us on lighting and set at Phillip Sherlock Centre in such a cool and friendly manner that you hardly thought you were in a class. They gave us their Francois, a prince of a man.
Sister Irene was adored by her Alpha family. Joyce Archibald recalled the cheers she received when she returned after a long absence: “At the announcement of her arrival she was greeted with thunderous applause. I had never witnessed such outpouring of love, appreciation, regard and delight for someone so humble and unassuming.”
Newton Coote, Training Manager at St John Bosco related that it was Sister Carmen along with Sister Benedict who shared with him their unique style of cooking. Sister Carmen had the sweetest smile, radiating love for all.
Fitz Casserley was a brilliant accountant and a loving family man. Growing up, we were like family to his daughter Ann-Marie and son Richard. We have delightful stories of the love and respect between the two business partners who must be now organising heaven’s ledgers. Fitz gave great jokes, but much of his laughter went after the death of a beloved grandson. He passed away in the Bahamas where Ann-Marie cared for him.
Our sympathy to the families of these wonderful Jamaicans. May their souls rest in peace.
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