Esmeralda Javens

Waynesville. Though Esmeralda "Emerald" Cariani Javens was born in Brazil in 1925 and developed an accomplished career as an actress, dancer, model and beauty queen, she left it all behind after meeting her future blue-eyed American husband, Charles Javens. After a whirlwind romance in one of the prettiest places on earth, she bravely found the faith to leave Brazil and start a new life in a foreign country. She admired America and took pride in becoming one of her citizens in 1962. She went on to be a mother of two, gained a MA in French, and taught languages for 29 years. She loved plants. Her exotic home garden in Miami, Florida enjoyed her green thumb for 29 years. With so many languages available in her mind (Portuguese, French, Spanish, Italian, English), she unwittingly became the master of the mixed idiomatic expression. She would often be caught saying, "I made that dish from scrap." Though she partied with the likes of Ricardo Montalban and Jimmy Stewart, she was delighted to share humble meals with the Brazilian poor. Esmeralda worked with abandon on her own yard and house and taught those values to her children. She believed in frugality, hard work, being honest, not hiding her feelings, and doing the right thing no matter who got hurt. Her energy and enthusiasm for life was infectious and charmed all she met. She will be missed by her husband, Charles, of 57 years of marriage. She will be missed by her son and daughter, Rollin and Luisa, her ever devoted son-in-law, Kris, her daughter-in-law, Renee, and her granddaughters, June, Josie, Britain and Isabella. She goes on to join her mom, called Vovó, in heaven and to wait there for the rest of her family. Brave and intrepid, she blazes the trail for her family to a new life in a new place, again. Graveside services will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at Green Hill Cemetery with Reverend Tonya D. Hill officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:30 until 4:15 p.m. prior to service at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.

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