Jinette Theresa Cheedle

Jinette – a loving wife, mother and daughter, a caring sister and a fun aunt who left us so tragically on Sunday morning.

Jinette the second eldest of five children, was born on the 29th January 1959 in Mombasa – Kenya to Wilby & Cecile Payet., where she spent the first 17 years of her life – a childhood full of happy memories. Jinette was educated at Star of the Sea School in Mombasa together with her two other sisters Wendy & Barbara.

In 1976 the Payet family moved from Mombasa to Seychelles and set up home in Plaisance . Not long after the move, Jinette went to work for the National Provident Fund – which was a department that used to take care of employee’s monetary benefits..

Two years later she moved on and took a job at the Reef Hotel where she worked in the Accounts Department. In 1980, never being one to miss out on a good opportunity she accepted the offer of a career with Seychelles Breweries - which at that time had offices at Kingsgate House.

On the 24th August 1985 Jinette married Charles Cheedle better known as Chuck , at Good Shepherd Church. Together they had two lovely daughters - Caroline who is 18 years old and Sue-Ellen who is 14 years of age – both born in Seychelles during the time that their dad was working at the American Tracking Station.

After the closure of the American Tracking Station in September 1996, Ginette and Chuck realized that much as they both loved the Seychelles they needed to think of what was best for the children. In December 2003, after having made the heart rending decision to leave the Seychelles, the family moved from La Misere to Florida in the United States which has been their home for the past six years.

Whilst in Florida Chuck took on a job in Dubai where he currently works, He looked forward to his trips home every three to four months to be with his family. Jinette in the meantime had established her network of friends. She reconnected with old Seychellois friends who also live in the States, as well as making new ones who featured in her day to day life.. She was always helpful and was known for her caring ways. The number of phone calls and flower tributes received from the States during the last few days bear testimony of how much her friends valued her friendship.
Ever the independent person, and with the two girls at school, Jinette decided that she would get back to the world of work. With her pleasant and bubbly personality it was very easy for her to get a job in Down Town Disney which is part of Disney World. Jinette was well liked by all her colleagues and peers, who needless to say have, like the rest of us, expressed utter disbelief in her sudden passing.

One always felt welcomed at Jinette’s house and in August 2007 her mum and Nana braved the long journey to Florida to spend time with her and her family. It was whilst there that Mammy Cecile turned 69 and Jinette gave her a birthday party to remember !! On their return home, the holiday pictures they brought back confirmed the wonderful time that had been had by all.

Although distance separated them, Jinette remained close to her parents and to her brothers & sisters – Barbara, Tony, Peter, Wendy and adopted brother Ralph. Mammy Cecile looked forward to her fortnightly phone calls during which Jinette wanted to know how they were keeping, how was the rest of the family, and she in turn would update Mammy Cecile on what had been happening in their lives in Florida.

Special family events were very important to her. In April 2006 Jinette came to Seychelles to celebrate with family and friends her parents 50th wedding Anniversary – their Golden Jubilee… This was indeed a memorable day where love and happiness overflowed at the party held at Le Meridien Barbaron.

4 weeks ago, on the 19th June, Jinette and her family once again landed on our shores - to celebrate yet another wonderful and joyous occassion in the Payet family – the wedding of Angela her niece to Steve Lablache on the 26th June at Cerf Island. The family was once again reunited and happiness, jokes, laughter, chaos and love filled the house at Plaisance.
In the last 4 weeks Jinette had a social calendar which kept her so busy - visiting and meeting up with many of her relatives and friends. A special moment was last Friday morning when everybody in the family – Mammy Cecile & Daddy Wilby, the husbands, the wives, the mums the grandchildren, the brothers & sisters, all took time out of their busy schedule to meet up at the Botanical Gardens to have the traditional ‘Family Photo’ taken.. A golden opportunity to have everybody in the right place at the right time !! Some of these pictures have been uploaded and needless to say they will be treasured forever.

Jinette had made plans for the coming three weeks which included organizing flowers and a day on which to visit the graves of her departed loved ones, a weekend with Nicole and Eddie, spending time with Wendy on Praslin and friends on La Digue… On her return to Mahe from Praslin she had so much planned - including a meeting with Alain St Ange of the Seychelles Tourism Board to finalise her appointment as a Tourism Ambassador for Seychelles in the States – something she would have done with great success as she loved the Seychelles so much. She had already taken and compiled a spectacular collection of pictures with which she was going to ‘sell’ the Seychelles she said… .

With her joie de vivre, Jinette loved entertaining. Cooking for her friends and family was a great joy for her – she was an excellent cook and our Creole cuisine was her forte….. She was even preparing for her farewell party and so much more – she loved and lived life to the full…
On Sunday morning the 18th July, without any warning, as a result of a fatal heart attack .Jinette was tragically taken from us. In the blink of an eye, the laughter and joy of a family reunion was suddenly over shadowed by shock, tears, pain and unimaginable grief.

As we try to come to terms with our terrible loss, our Faith sustains us, and we thank the Lord for the 51 years of her life and for having given us four wonderful weeks with her surrounded by her friends and loved ones.
In closing, we would like to say thank you for the overwhelming expressions of sympathy and condolences extended to us by so many people in Seychelles and overseas. The support, the phone calls, the text messages, the emails, the flowers, the visits at our home, your prayers, your presence here today have all helped and comforted us during this very sad time… and we thank you.

Jinette as the Lord welcomes you to his heavenly home, you will forever be in our hearts and never far from our thoughts…. You leave us with so many wonderful memories and we shall miss you terribly.
Until we meet again farewell dearest Jinette..