Appreciation: Josie Stafrace
His natural disposition to help led him to be loved by all those who knew him
I have known my brother-in-law Josie for most of my adult life, during which time our mutual respect never ceased.
During the course of the years we met at family celebrations such as Christmas lunches, regular summer vacations and barbecues at his house. It will be hard for us to draw up any guest list without jotting down his name first, and his absence on such occasions will be sorely felt.
Josie has been a reference point not only as a family member, but we also knew we could safely confide in him serious problems. His thorough knowledge of governance helped him to tackle them with the necessary confidence. His natural disposition to help led him to be loved by all those who knew him.
He had many traits, but I would like to mention one in particular. He loved electronic devices, and was always on the lookout for new gadgets and surprising us with their innovative usage.
Josie’s life achievements are first and foremost the family he loved so dearly, namely his wife Suzanne, his two children Alexia and Stefan and his beloved granddaughter Emma.
Throughout his career in the civil service he built an excellent reputation with his dedication to the various roles he held. This is attested by the many letters of appreciation he received from various heads of departments. By the time he retired, and from then on till the very end, he chaired ministerial interviews, wherein he used the experience garnered in his previous roles to carry out his duty with integrity and exemplary fairness.
It is now the time for me to bid farewell to somebody who I considered not just as a close family member but also as a very special friend.
May the Lord grant him eternal rest.