Jean Justice Droz (nee Ferguson) came into the world on 6 August 1908
and departed this life on 17 May 2014, having lived to the same age as her mother before
her: 105. Today she would have been 106.
In March 2014, when I saw her last (picture below), she was in good spirits and
determined in her independence though she was becoming increasingly frail and
prone to falls. Even though she did not insist on saying the alphabet backwards as
she had done on every other occasion in the last few years when I visited, I am
confident she would have done it without hesitation.
The photograph shows her (front row, second from left) seated next to husband Andre Droz with the staff of Droz Bros and was probably taken in the early fifties.
My first memories of her are when she and Andre came to visit us at Christmas
time and on those occasions when we went into Droz Bros on the corner of Field and Smith Streets
to meet Dad. (These streets are now called Joe Slovo and Anton Lembede Streets). I must have been about 6
years old. The smell of methylated spirits will bring on that memory any time
as the shop was always spotless – not even a hint of a fingerprint or smudge to
be seen on the glass showcases. At that time Jean
was for me a prim and proper
“old” lady with a twinkle in her eye who mostly spent her time at “the
flat”
doing what wives did in those days. I have no idea what
that
really was in her case. Much later in life I remember very well visiting her at 154
Lambert Road where she loved her view of the ocean and the Moses Mabhida
Stadium and the chattering monkeys in the trees.
Aged 35, Jean married 37-year old
Swiss watchmaker Andre Droz-dit-Busset in Durban on 3 December 1943. At the
time he was a resident of the Prince of Wales Hotel and she was a secretary
resident at 309 Killarney as I have learned from their marriage certificate.
Both were divorced. Her previous name is given as Jean Justice Coetzee so it has
to be assumed that she was previously married to a Mr Coetzee. He remains a complete mystery in spite of my best efforts to find out more.
In 1994, Gwen and Denis accompanied her on a visit to Switzerland where she was the guest of the Baumann family. We all met up at the chalet in Kiental for a memorable day on the mountainside with all the Baumann family ... as well as Rene's hunting group who delighted us all with their hunting horns and song. Jean and I often reminisced about that wonderful day. She always loved Switzlerand and maintained her French until just a few years ago.
Donald Shaw was her good friend and right hand man for the last years of
her life and along with Liz Cartwright and Pauline, ensured she did not feel completely alone
in the world. Donald was there almost to the last. He said, “I left just before she passed but can tell you she fought for her life
right until the end. She had an incredible will to live and we can be thankful
that there was not too much suffering”.
Jean was cremated at Stellawood Crematorium privately on 22 May as Jean
herself had chosen. Towards the end of her life, she confided in her good
friends Liz and Pauline that she would like her ashes to be scattered near to where she scattered Andre’s ashes.
Donald arranged a gathering of
the residence, admin and nursing staff at Marian Villa where Jean had spent the
last three years of her life. On this occasion, Donald spoke briefly about Jean’s earlier days at
Glenbury in Durban and how she had survived on her own for so many years before
having to accept that care was the only option.
Many of the staff expressed to
him that they had a great respect for her despite her independent nature and Donald
said he left feeling humbled by the care, kindness and love the people had for
Jean.
Dear Jean, on this the day on which you were born, we salute you and honour your life - a life led with strength, dignity and correctness (not forgetting your sense of humour!).
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