About a month ago, Juliet Williams reminded me that soon it would be the tenth anniversary of her food booth, Julio's, in the Uptown Mall on Edward Street. I had written about the opening and her fifth anniversary, and faithfully promised her that nearer the anniversary date we would get together for an interview. Never for one minute foreseeing that this vibrant woman who still briskly walked around the Queen's Park Savannah every Saturday morning would suffer a massive stroke early Sunday morning, and be gone from us in two short days.
Ten years ago, Juliet was a full-time homemaker who had through her then 35 years of marriage, always cooked for her husband David, and four children, Derek, Tony, Debbie and Albert. When suddenly David was faced with the closedown of the Textile Mills in Arima and possible retrenchment, this very resourceful woman, in consultation with the family, immediately decided to apply for a small, unpretentious booth, and do what she did best, cook tasty and wholesome, homestyle food.
She never looked back. "I have my regulars so there is never a bad day, Thank God" Juliet would often tell me. Of course there was also the added touch of personalised service from Juliet and her son Derek.
But there was another Juliet which her customers would not have known. Granny Jules, the perfect and devoted grandmother to Lindsay and Arielle, who are also my grandchildren, and Matthew and Jean Paul. I always marvelled that in spite of her heavy schedule with the shop, as no one cooked for Julio's but Juliet, she continued the tradition started from her children's youth of taking her four grandchildren for a treat every Friday evening, starting with a lime at the Mall, followed by snack dinner, after which they spent the night with her.
There was no formal eulogy for Jules during the Funeral Mass at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church last Thursday morning, but her son Albert paid this fitting tribute on behalf of his siblings. "There are no words to describe the emptiness that I feel. At the same time however, there are no words to describe the love that Mom shared with her children and grandchildren. All of us who were fortunate enough to receive and reciprocate that love, know that she will never be forgotten. I think it is unnecessary to try and express in words the extent of this love, because she herself knew, felt and gave it."
Eternal Rest grant unto you Jules and May You Rest in Peace. You were deeply loved by us all.