Joseph Melville Nazareth

It is with profound sadness that we inform you of the sudden death of Joseph Melville Nazareth on January 20, 2023, aged 78 years.  Melville leaves behind his loving wife Louisa and his two children Gavin and Merle.

Joe was the son of the late Joaquim and late Ivy Nazareth, the brother of Paul (Juliet), the late Olga (Mario) Machado, the late Ophelia and Olivia (Lawrence) Bulley.  

A Requiem Mass in celebration of the life of Joseph Melville Nazareth 

will be held on Wed, March 8, 2023 at 11.30am 

at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Pollards Hill, Mitcham. CR4 1LS. Surrey.

Funeral Mass Link  (For the eulogies: advance the scrubber to 50:45)

____________________________________________________________________

Joe studied in Nairobi, Kenya, he later joined the Railway Training School (RTS) and became a Steam Engine Driver doing trips from Nairobi to Mombasa and back. Driving a steam engine was a tough job, feeding the firebox with logs or crude oil.  But the sound that the steam engine made will always be connected with trains.   At the RTS he learnt the value of hard work, cleanliness and keeping sincere friends, and he lived by these values right through his life.

His hands were made for working and he took pride in whatever he did. Everything had to be spick & span.  When cleaning the house, he made sure that all that needed shining - shined.  When making Sorpotel with Louisa he used to make sure that each piece of meat was cut small and to the same size. He loved gardening and probably had the best roses in his neighbourhood.  Every Saturday he used to polish Paul’s motorcycle till he could see his face in the chrome.  At home our dog Fluffy was more like a brother to him.  Joe was called by many names - Sunu when he was young, Melville at school and later Joe.  Call him what you may but he had a kind and loving heart of gold and would go out of his way to help anyone.  At the Goan Estate, he helped to take out big boulders of stone to level the playing ground, he helped the Goan Estate ‘Beetroot’ Band and played hockey for the Tridents.  There is no record of how many cars he repaired for friends.  Joe was an active member of the GOA in London; he was in the Goan hockey team and he enjoyed being part of an active social life.

Besides all this he was a very religious man, attended Mass regularly, looked after the Church gardens and took holy communion to the sick.

It is very difficult to find a man like this with so many talents and his love to help people.  All who knew him will surely miss his warm Smile and Helping Hand.

DEATH took Joe`s BODY,

GOD took his SOUL,

Our HEART keeps his LOVE,

Our MIND keeps his LOVING MEMORIES,

Our FAITH lets us know that we will MEET AGAIN.

BYE BYE, MELVILLE TILL WE MEET AGAIN

Source:  R. Moraes, Toronto 55 Plus Goan Association

____________________________________________________________________

My Brother Joe

By Olivia Turner 

A loss so indescribable leaving an unimaginable void, not only for me but for the whole family. 

Joe was born on the 20th March 1944 which was a Monday and as we all know Monday's child is fair of face, this applies to my brother in every aspect of his life, a man both fair and true in everything he did.

After school, Joe joined the East African Railway Training School for train drivers and lived on site.  The principal in charge was an ex-military British colonel which meant rigorous 5:00 am daily training and inspection of their quarters for dust, cleanliness and impeccable appearance… this training put Joe on the right track - so to speak.

‘Colonels Training’ was embodied in Joe’s life from here on, which came in extremely handy when he came to England in 1968 and even more useful to impress his wife, Louisa,  when they married in 1973.

Joe was a very keen sportsman and gained an impressive collection of trophies and medals.  He was an avid Liverpool fan too. In Nairobi he especially enjoyed playing hockey with his team  ‘The Tridents’.  They were never just his hockey team players; they were the cement that held their friendship throughout his life, friends that became family to him.

Back home, Christmas on the Estate was a joyous occasion, Joe took charge of making the star for the Nazareth household, taking great pride in his craftmanship and always produced one of the most beautiful highly decorated stars, before hanging it up in our hallway for display.  Being the kind hearted man he was, he often took it upon himself to craft a star for neighbours too.

When televisions first arrived in Nairobi in the early 60's it was an exciting time and not everyone was fortunate enough to own one.  Olga had a friend who worked for Phillips so was able to buy our first black and white television and Joe was over the moon about his sister’s purchase!

Every Wednesday our living room would be full of Joe’s friends 7:00 pm to watch Laramie and every Thursday at 7:00 pm to watch Bonanza.  This quickly turned into a regular weekly social evening for all the family to enjoy.

In 1963 Kenya got its Independence and non-Kenyan Asians had to purchase a work permit.  When Joe's permit expired in 1967, he made plans to leave Kenya for the UK.

Our Dad J M Nazareth [senior] had a customs and excise business in which Joe had worked for a short period, while waiting to emigrate to the UK in 1968.

Once in the UK, he soon adapted from train driver to motor mechanic at the Volkswagen Company in London where he worked until he retired.

Joe was a loving and caring brother.   He was kind and gentle, a natural nurturer, he loved and cared for his family with all his heart.  Family was always his top priority, nothing mattered more to him than being there for his family.

We had a unique bond of love and affection and he was always the first person I called upon in times of need and advice.  He had an orange VW Beetle which he had lovingly rebuilt, including fitting it with a brand-new engine.  He cherished his car but during a particular time in my life, he felt that I needed a car more than he did and gave me his prized possession.

I will never forget his kindness, generosity and love, always going that extra mile to make others comfortable.

Joe was a devoted family man and loved a social gathering.  A perfect gentleman, he had a great sense of humour, with the ability of injecting love and care and bringing people together.

Joe has always been a great help to all his sisters.  When Ophelia came to England Joe was her 'rock' and support in every way necessary, physically and emotionally.

He also accompanied Olga to Kenya on a journey of love to assist our frail parents to make their way to pastures new as they said goodbye to Nairobi.

Joe has always been a staunch Catholic and a very active member of his parish Church.  He will be greatly missed in the church community.

Joe’s easy-going attitude, ability to get on with everyone and fun-loving personality, made him popular with all age groups, especially the children.

At my wedding he was dancing with my 6-year-old granddaughter when she excused herself for the bathroom.  On her return she could not find Joe on the dance floor and kept asking 'Where is that skinhead I was dancing with?'   After that Joe was affectionately known as “The Skinhead” in the family.

Joe used to like the song “From a Jack to a King".  He and Louisa got married on the 4 th August 1973 and they would have been celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year.....in the words of the song....” I played an Ace and I won a Queen, You made me King of your Heart.”

A devoted husband indeed.  He used to joke about his “to do list.... a full foolscap page” he said” and at the bottom she wrote.... PTO”!

Joe was extremely proud of his children Gavin and Merle and of their achievements, always guiding and supporting them with a gentleness that was uniquely my brother Joe.

Rest in peace now brother Joe.   Always in my heart

Video Link: Joe Nazareth, RIP