Retreive loses Camille Rose

The community of Retrieve, St James, has lost one of its most ambitious residents in Camille Ann Rose, who died on November 20.

Rose, 39, died at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James after a brief illness.

Born to Kurtis Rose and Enid Watkins, Rose was the sixth of nine children for her mother. The others are sisters Janice, Jesrine, Keisha, and Tanya, and brothers Junior, Rohan, Oneil, and Fabian

She had eight additional siblings on her father's side. They are Kertis, Sheldon, Mahlon, Ricardo, Cheston, Evondale, Sandra and Ruthel.

"She was special and beautiful and often called 'the yellow-skin one' as she was the only sibling with light complexion," Keisha Johnson, one of Rose's four sisters, said.

TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY

Rose, who died leaving one child and two grandchildren, was raised in a tight-knit family, with a grandfather who fought in the 1914 war. Her family members said that her upbringing significantly contributed to her character.

"Camille hated confrontation and love peace," Johnson said.

Rose, a businesswoman, started out selling women's clothing. Johnson recalled that Rose would travel to Kingston to purchase clothes and then return to St James to sell them. She also sold food at popular events.

Johnson said her sister was independent and never bothered anyone for anything.

Rose has been described as a family woman who was always fashionable.

"She wore the best hairstyle, the best outfits and always having heads turned. The local kids and neighbours often asked her, 'Which aeroplane you just land off?' and she would replied and say, 'Wi don't haffi go foreign to look hot'," Johnson said

"She was soft-spoken and easy-going, and she will be missed by so many people. She never said no to a friend or family if you asked her for something. She will give her last," Johnson said.

Rose's funeral will take place on November 10 at Retrieve Baptist Church in the parish.