Ms. Josephine Chetram

Seeing is believing. For many, those words simply represent a motto, but for Josephine Chetram, it summarized in every way who she was. She was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around her and always thinking before acting. She was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything she did. She was a friendly person who truly cared about those around her.

Josephine was born on December 7,1944, at home as one of two fraternal twins with her brother being Alvin in St. Andrew, Jamaica, West Indies. She was the daughter of Cecil and Mabel Williams Chetram. Raised in Kingston, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Josephine was always aware of how others around her felt and this quality served her well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Josephine was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if she was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where she could concentrate, Josephine also had the ability to relate well with her family and friends. Josephine was raised with eleven siblings. She had four older brothers, Alfred, Samuel, Edward and Leibert, three older sisters, Edna, Carmelita, and Mavis, a twin brother, Alvin and three younger siblings, Aston and Gladys who are also twins and the youngest is Roy (Manny). Josephine was constantly involved in activities with her family. Josephine and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Josephine was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. Josephine was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, she was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Josephine was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. Josephine didn't do not much sports. She had to help her brothers though, prepare for their cycling events on a weekly basis. Her activities mainly came from having to help with her sisters, her mother in gardening, picking and planting and watering, which was the family’s main source of income. They had to go to the market with their mother to sell and trade produce and vegetables. In her spare time she liked dressing up nicely, modeling and looking just pretty. She did that quite well. She was just gorgeous. Josephine's memorable achievements were merely surviving her older brothers and sisters during childhood. It was tough.

Aunt Josie grew up and received her early formal education from The Cockburn Pen Primary School, Kingston 11, Jamaica West Indies, which was located in the neighborhood in which she and all her brothers and sisters grew up. She had favorite subjects and teachers. Her favorite class was English Compositions and Penmanship. Her handwriting was as beautiful as she was. Her favorite teachers were Miss Walker, Miss Huddler, and Miss. Bryan. She finished school in 1960. After that, she then began to further her education with IBM. Soon after, she followed her older sister Mavis to the USA where she migrated and began her new glamorous life. Aunt Jo was very classy, always elegantly attired, graceful and very sophisticated. She was also a no-nonsense woman, a disciplinarian, a woman of values and strong character. Even though she was so busy creating a path for herself, somehow, she was always able to incorporate her other family members into her life, no matter how far away they lived from her. She was the family connector. Amazingly enough, Aunt Josie had photographs with almost every one of her brothers and sisters. She was a specialist at making us feel so special.

Most folks would say that Josephine was shy until they got to know her. Those who were privileged to know her well learned that she was a solid, good friend. Josephine was reluctant to generalize about people, and she based her friendships on her personal experiences. Because of this, Josephine best trusted those people that she truly knew. She was concerned about how those around her felt, and she always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. She could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that she made, Josephine kept. While growing up, some of her best friends were Monica Watson, Alice, and One Daughter, Tony Glasgow, Dennis (Taxi-man). Later in life, she became really good friends with Oying, Betty, Pethime, Sonia Moodie, Jeff, and Sam, just to name a few.

Although she did not give birth to any children, she had more than any mother could ever bear to life., Gary, Nancy, Paul, Jennifer, were just a few that comes to mind.

Josephine liked to experience things firsthand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced her choice of leisure time activities.. Her favorite pastimes were hosting parties and travelling all over the world, which she did extensively.

An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, her faith was important to her. Josie’s compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in her personal beliefs. She was a member of the Catholic faith.

Anyone who traveled or spent vacation with Josephine had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Her favorite vacations included when her family would come to spend time with her in New York .She also enjoyed going to Paris, London England Buckingham Palace, Africa, India, Canada and back to JAMAICA.

When Josephine retired finally from her Mary Poppins lifestyle in New York in 2016, she was well prepared. She had a plan. She had taken the time to learn about her various options and chose her course wisely. Her new retirement life involved relocating to Miami Florida where she settled with her older sister Mavis. Unfortunately, she never really had a chance to put her plan into play and enjoy retirement because soon after going to live in Miami, she had a stroke and that slowed her down drastically. Josephine continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making the best of the hand that she was dealt.

Josephine passed away on April 19, 2022 at Kindred Hospital, Coral Gables, Florida after she had a second major stroke in November of 2021 which debilitated her terribly. She fought bravely, but finally threw in the towel after four months of fighting endlessly.

Josephine has crossed over the bridge and she leaves behind to continue to cherish her fond memories, and celebrate life, her sisters Mavis and Gladys, her brothers Edward, Aston and Roy (Manny), and so many nephews and nieces, loved ones and dear friends like Lyndon, Monica and Elaine, Ian, Beverley, LLoyd and Dennis, Johnny, Sharon, Earlington, Primrose, Alfred Jr. Devon, and Joy, Tony, Bazil and Tracey, Beverley, Julie, Jennifer. Vaughn and Sheree, Alvin, Genevieve, and Tina, Michelle and Aston, and Andre.

Two of Josie's closest and most valued friends were Betty and Sonia.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Josephine was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger. Josephine was a trustworthy, and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Josephine Chetram was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with her. She will be missed.