- WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
Dr. Kemel Gajraj (centre), wife Beatrice (left), daughter Nadine (right), Louise Valle (second right) and birthday girl Edith Jarbeau (second left), at Mrs. Jarbeau's party on Friday, April 7, thrown by her son-in-law, Canadian High Commissioner Claudio Valle, at Seymour Avenue in St. Andrew.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
WELL, MY dears, it's been just three years since the absolutely charming Edith Jarbeau, at the invitation of her daughter Louise Valle, decided to make Jamaica her home, following the death of her husband. Louise Valle is the very charming wife of Canadian High Commissioner, Claudio Valle.
In the three years, not only has Edith enriched the lives of those she has come in contact with, Jamaica itself has been the better for the experience of having her as an adopted daughter.
A truly charming lady, Mrs. Jarbeau became an instant hit from the moment she arrived here in Kingston. Here was a 70-odd-year old-lady who was way into what is regarded as her retirement years, but clearly, if these were what her life should be reflective of, no one told her, and if they did, she opted not to pay them any mind!
LIFE TO ITS MAX
From the get-go, Mrs. Jarbeau not only carved out her own niche of friends and social circle, she made it clear that it was not her intention to become another 'old lady sitting at home and knitting, while waiting for the Lord to come and take her 'home', but that if and when he called, she would be there with the best living life to its absolute max!
And so, when news of her impending departure to her native Canada broke, it did cause a number of people to suffer bouts of depression as not only is Mrs. Jarbeau the poster-child for ageing and partying with great dignity, she represented the yardstick by which ageing and age are measured.
A staple in Kingston high-society, Mrs. Jarbeau was not only a favourite guest at many an upstanding social, she was a party-girl, and life-of-the-party when lesser mortals wilted.
Two years ago when she attained the fabulous age of 80, not only did she throw a party to mark the occasion, she announced that from then, on her next birthday she would assume the age of 18 by reversing the numbers, and by the time she got to 82, she would then 28.
NOT A FAREWELL DO
Last Friday, the fabulous Edith Jarbeau turned 28, and to mark the occasion, her daughter and son-in-law opened up their official residence in the Golden Triangle, and hosted a truly fabulous dinner-party in her honour.
Sweet-things, sadly, it was also a farewell do in honour of Mrs. Jarbeau, as with the tour of duty of her son-in-law coming to an end in October, the darling Mrs. Jarbeau has decided to return to Canada this spring.
Well, if any of the specially invited guests expected long faces or a melancholy atmosphere, then no one, it seemed, bothered to tell the hosts and/or the guest of honour as this was not the mood, and honeys, it was clearly not that kind of a party!
My daahlings, to say Mrs. Jarbeau was in good spirits would be to do a grave literary injustice to her.
It was a regal Mrs. Jarbeau, sporting a fabulous Chanel couture number, who greeted guests last Friday evening. And if there was any notion that it would be anything but a haute-fab night, daughter and hostess Louise Valle was sporting an Ungaro creation my dears, and for my word they looked a picture of supreme elegance.
Smoked salmon on toastettes and spicy beef orbs served early to whet the appetite, and with that accomplished, the hostess upped the ante with a fare that included some dee-vine jumbo shrimps, leg of ham served with fresh pineapple, a faultless coconut-chicken, goat curried with assorted vegetables, fish - escoveitched - pumpkin-rice, stewed vegetables, Chinese coleslaw, all topped with ample servings of a French vanilla cake, layered with hazelnut filling and a raspberry rum mix with a whipped crème-icing, and honeys, this here piece de resistance literally took the cake!
The guest of honour has never left home without her dancing shoes, and whenever she got to the party, in between sips of her favourite party drink - icy-cold Red Stripe Beer - was always the first to 'shake-a-leg'.
Whether it was on stage dancing up a fabulous glow with Elephant Man, or simply partnering with any of her friends and associates, Mrs. Jarbeau was not wont to stand around if there was music being played. This, along with her disarming smile and engaging personality, made her a hit everywhere she was a guest.
Indeed, Kingston's social scene will not be the same with her returning to her beloved Canada. She has, however, committed herself to returning.
And, in her parting, her selflessness was made that much more evident, as she bade those invited to attend at her farewell dinner not to take along any farewell offerings.
Among those out, were 'A Crowder' Robert MacMillan; Captain Michael Lyn and his wife, social empress Thalia Lyn; legal luminary Hugh Levy; Roy and Sylvia Collister; Jennifer Lim; noted attorney George Fatta; Dr. Kemel and Beatrice Gajraj along with their fabulous daughter Nadine; Janet Farrow sporting a fab new look, Maurice and Hazel Robinson; Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin; Jim Gill and his wife Marina and their newborn Rylee, her parents, Vlademar and Riesa Sahkno, Paul Shoucair; Beverly Coleman; Tom and Tracy McArdle; oh so fab Louise Finnegan; charming Allison Peart; Maurice Williams and wife Judge Nerine Small; Dr. Dev and Irene Maragh; John Marcocchio and his fabulous wife Dr. Maria Protz; the lovely Anna Chen; William Lampert and Anna Kaiser; and the lovely Joan Lindo and others.
