Cawston

The late Catherine Edith Cawston, also known as 'Kitty', left a tremendous legacy of love and inspiration, which her family said shaped their lives.

Cawston, born on September 23, 1920, in Devon, England, was the only child of Percy and Edith Netten.

She was born to Victorian parents and grew up in Edwardian England at a time when Britannia still ruled the waves. Her upbringing was moulded by the standards and expectations of the era: poise and probity.

Her character was further shaped by the hardships of World War II, when, at the age of 19, she joined the women's branch of the Royal Navy, known as the Wrens. It was as a young naval officer that she met her future husband, Basil Cawston, who was an equally young gunnery officer in the army.

They got married on November 8, 1944, while the war was still on in earnest, in Milford Haven, Wales. They moved to Kingston, Jamaica, in 1951 after the birth of Sandra and Jackie, the first two of their three daughters.

Supportive wife and mother

Basil formed his own business, BGW Cawston & Partners, and Kitty devoted herself to being a supportive wife and mother. Their third daughter, Sarita, was born in Jamaica.

Basil and Kitty were married for 42 years, until Basil's untimely passing in 1986 at the age of 66.

Kitty, whose greatest passion was a game of bridge, was known for unmistakeable candour. If she thought that someone had fallen short, she would tell him or her in clear language.

Arek Joseph, a son-in-law, recalls being on the receiving end of Cawston's tell-it-like-it-is attitude.

"When we first met, I was a ner-vous young suitor to her firstborn, Sandra, and the first thing she said to me was 'Young man, get your hair cut'. I am still not sure whether or not I can now start growing my hair," Joseph said, laughing.

To Kitty, directness was not to be equated with rudeness; it was a form of honesty. Those who claimed they did not like her frank approach would admit to respecting her devotion to propriety.

At the age of 72, Cawston was shot by a robber in Jamaica. She refused to hand over a sentimentally precious ring, given to her by her late husband, as an anniversary gift. Little did she care that the robber towered over her five-foot frame with a gun. After surviving the attack, Cawston proudly wore the ring as a symbol of general defiance against the forces of evil.

Kitty's final months were not comfortable for her, Joseph recalled. However, the suffering in her twilight years was mitigated by the keen and kind attention of caregiver, Patrice, as well as the outpouring of love demonstrated by her three daughters.

Joseph said members of the extended family also chipped in with time and service.

Love and compassion

"Jackie's husband, Joe, demonstrated an endless capacity for love and compassion towards Kitty and the three girls, to the extent that there is no question that Joe treated Kitty as if she were his own mother, and there is no doubt that Kitty reciprocated that honour," he said. Other family members were a tower of strength for Cawston in hospital.

Cawston leaves her daughters, Sandra Joseph, Jackie Simmons and Sarita Khan, sons-in-law Joe Simmons, Nafis Khan and Arek Joseph. Also grieving are seven grandchildren.

Arek Joseph's poignant praise captures the tremendous influence Catherine 'Kitty' Cawston had on her family.

"We have lost a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and mother-in-law, but we retain the dearest memories of a substantial human being.

"Our long-time friend, John Martin, who also knew Kitty and Basil in Jamaica, on hearing of Kitty's passing, said that we have lost a monument. I think that 'monument' is an excellent word to describe the true stature of a wonderful woman," Joseph said in a written tribute.