A life well lived - Joan Kelly remembered as a storyteller, teacher and protector

Family members, old friends, former colleagues and past students of Joan Vivene Kelly, former vice-principal of Holy Childhood High School, filled the pews of Meadowbrook United Church in St Andrew last Friday, gathering in love and gratitude to bid her farewell.

Lovingly called "Aunt Claire," she was remembered as warmth personified -- a tireless cheerleader, a woman who believed fiercely in others, and a gifted storyteller whose voice could light up any room.

Kelly, born on January 26, 1954, passed away on January 11, just weeks shy of her 72nd birthday. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a condition her family said slowly stripped away the matriarch's vibrant personality, dimming but never fully extinguishing her spirit.

For her son, Daviot, assistant editor at THE STAR, watching that decline was heartbreaking.

"As the cruel Alzheimer's robbed you of your speech and your amazing wit, leaving you a mere shell of the vibrant person you once were, there were still flashes of the 'old you', I remember earlier on when you forgot my birthday," he recalled.

"After Dad told you what day it was, you gave me $100."

Though the service began in a hush of sorrow, it did not remain there. As tributes recalling the 'old Claire' poured out, grief gently gave way to gratitude. Sad faces softened into smiles. Heads nodded knowingly. At times, the chapel rang with laughter -- the kind that comes from shared memories too rich to hold back.

Her sister, Beverley Samuels, and niece, Raquel Forrester, spoke of how she brought life to everything she touched -- from Spanish lessons delivered with passion to English classes taught with meticulous precision. Even at home, she could not resist correcting grammatical errors heard on the evening news, though the broadcasters would never know.

"She taught Spanish with passion and English with precision. She listened to every news broadcast, gently correcting the errors even though they couldn't hear her," Beverley read, playfully apologising in advance for any mistakes in her own tribute, since Kelly was not there to edit it.

And then there was the storytelling.

"Aunt Claire's storytelling was legendary, animated, vivid, unforgettable. She acted out every character from her school days, college days, and life."

Her childhood friend, Dr Vivienne Quarrie, honoured her in a way Aunt Claire would have loved -- by becoming every character herself. With dramatic flair and tender affection, she carried the congregation back to Green Island, Hanover, where Kelly's story began, and through the many roles she played at family gatherings.

Among them was the baker -- a role she embraced with pride.

"Some delicious treat such as toto, puddings, real Christmas fruit cake, Easter bun, plantain tart, greater cake, coconut drops, stew June plums or some other combination of any of these things that she and Ninnie had baked."

The church seemed to taste the memories as they were spoken.

And then came the childhood games.

"Now for the school occasions, Claire was most often the teacher, and we had to learn to spell, we had to learn Spanish. And, of course, you know the times table at the back of the exercise book, we had to know beyond 12 times. The least we would go is 14 times. The Lord helped you if you couldn't get there."

The congregation erupted with knowing laughter and emphatic agreement.

But Aunt Claire was not only teacher and baker -- she was protector.

"We were well cared for. Now do you believe that any 'take weh' man or black heart man could ever get to us? No such luck. Apart from our parents', Claire will let us know, 'You do not walk near any car that is black nor any car that have it windows wound up, and that look dark, and nobody will offer you sweetie on the road that you do not know. You cannot do that because you must come back here safely. Yes. So, we were well protected."

The congregation remained riveted -- listening not just to stories, but to the shaping of a life that had quietly shaped so many others.

Quarrie remembered the Christmas concerts in the markets, the spankings Aunt Claire had permission to give, the laughter that followed her wherever she went. In closing, she urged those gathered to hold fast to the example Kelly left behind.

"A model citizen of Jamaica at home, at school, and at play. There are many other things to remember but l ask, please assist in recalling those blessed memories because if we had more of those persons in Jamaica today, what a beautiful country we would have."

Even as he delivered the sermon, the Reverend Rohan Forrester -- her nephew-in-law -- reflected on her deep devotion: to her family, her school family, her church, the Savvy Seniors group she created at Meadowbrook United Church, and above all, to God. He spoke of her quiet, faithful routines -- rising each morning to read her Daily Bread and her Bible -- simple acts that left lasting impressions.

"She did know in touching lives in the classroom and in the community and in family that it would have drawn people together on a day like today to remember her and to celebrate her life. She simply did what she knew she should do."