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NONNA Julie Laval

 Nonna!

JULIE LAVAL

1935-2021




Mystic Gardens in Westlands. L to R front row Jimmy, Ligia , Julie Laval, Nicole (Tootie) Laval, Sam Butler

L to R back row: Floyd Laval, Ken Laval, Gordon Butler, Gavin, Patrick Butler and Jackie Fernandes.

 

FOR ALL OF HER LIFE Julie Laval charmed everyone she met. With that heavenly smile, it was easy, but it was not a put-on. She never lost that smile either. She loved people, especially the very, very young people. The Julie I knew in Nairobi was a fabulous dancer and an even more fabulous singer. She was one of the first women to sing on Voice of Kenya television, I was the show’s MC. She had all of her children to worry about, yet she never said no to anyone who needed help. Life was never easy but Julie never lost that smile. She once told me that it was her smile of hope because there was no point in putting any creases in her face, so she smiled and the world smiled with her. I spoke to her many times from Sydney Australia and our conversations always left me feeling that much better about the world. Anyone who knew her will never forget her. She is always in my prayers. She is in Heaven. Skip Fernandes

 

The Eulogy

 

By Kenneth Laval

 

Julia Philomena Laval was born in Mombasa in 1935. Her mother was Celeste Máure and her father was Joachim Chaves. Grandma Celeste was born in Seychelles and -- as with most parents searching for a better life and future for their family -- emigrated to mainland Africa. After the death of her first husband Christian Rusteau, Grandma Celeste married again. Joachim Chaves was Portuguese and was born in Malindi. Joachim and Celeste married in Mombasa. Mum was the 10th child of grandma Celeste.

Mum's siblings were 1 Henrietta 2 Gilbert 3 Phyllis 4 Paul / Paula 6 Lucy 7 Emmanuel 8 Sonny 9 Floret (who live in the UK) 10 Mum 11 Sheila. Mum went to school at Star of the Sea in Mombasa.

Her first marriage was in Mombasa to Aslam Hafeez Jamil from which Schera was born in August 1953. Unfortunately, Aslam died tragically in September 1954. Mum later married Guy Laval and had five more children: Mary-Anne now living in the UK, Ginette now living in NZ, Floyd (aka AAGH SON?!) hahaha Nicole aka Toots, Ken now living in Ireland. Mum first worked as a telephone operator in GPO Mombasa and later got promoted to GPO Nairobi where she met Guy Laval. Mum also worked as a secretary/receptionist at various well-known companies.

At one time, Mum held three jobs working as a receptionist, a hostess at restaurants and a cabaret singer. In her vast working experiences. Mum also worked as a ground hostess at Air France and that's how we got to visit many countries with her. Mum's last jobs were at the UK and Canadian embassies before she retired in (1993 - confirm this).

In August 1973, Mum became a grandmother when Schera's son Alessio was born. From that year, Mum was fondly called Nonna (which is Italian for grandmother).

Nonna's other grandchildren are Samantha, Yasser, Thureya, Adrian, Daniella, Julie, Malorie Germaine, Jamie, Gavin, Floyd Jnr, Rachel, Samuel, Guy, Jacob ... and Nonna lovingly embraced many other children who came into our family. At her time of passing, Nonna had nine great-grandchildren Dylan Gianni Liam Zara Kyle Bella Amare Kenneth (Ireland) James (Ireland).

 

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