Family, friends, employees gather to celebrate the life, bid farewell to businessman Hyacinth Payet |05 July 2017
Relatives, friends and employees gathered around the widow, children and grandchildren of the late Hyacinth Payet to celebrate his life and bid him farewell in a moving ceremony at Surya Memorial Hall yesterday afternoon.
Mr Payet was a well known businessman and founder of Waterloo Factory which manufactures different flavoured lemonade soft drinks.
Originally from Praslin, Mr Payet’s family moved to Mahé in the early 1950s in search of a better life for their eight children and settled at St Louis.
Mr Payet tried his hands at different jobs including that of a taxi driver before eventually starting his own business.
It was in the mid 1960s that Mr Payet with the advice and support of trusted friends launched himself in the soft drinks manufacturing business setting up his factory at St Louis.
“He soon made a name for himself and his brand, the well known Portello among others. With hard work and faith in God his business thrived against all odds and all competition and like David he was in competition with a giant – Seychelles Breweries. He survived because he firmly believed God was on his side,” one of his brothers in the 7th Day Adventist Church and childhood friend James Sabadin said in a moving panegyric.
“He was an icon and a legend at St Louis. Among children and elders alike he was affectionately known as Ton Ya. His Waterloo drinks have also become popularly known as Ton Ya and he was not only a good man but a man with a big heart, the epitome of generosity and those who have benefited from his largesse are numerous,” Mr Sabadin said.
He added it is unfortunate that his heart gave up on him in the morning of June 25.
Over the years up until now the different flavoured Waterloo soft drinks such as the much loved Portello, ice-cream soda, kola champagne, among others are still appreciated.
Mr Payet leaves behind his wife of 52 years Madeleine, children Jacques, Ruth and Gary as well as six grand children.
In a moving eulogy his son Jacques, speaking on behalf of his siblings, described his father as a loving, tender, caring father, friend and a teacher to him and his siblings.
He was a person who loved life, who cared for his family and others ensuring they were never in need.
This was strongly supported by one of his faithful employees of over 30 years Yvon Nicholas, who testified that in spite of his faults like any other human, Mr Payet always showed compassion for others, helping out wherever he could.
Mr Payet will be sadly missed by all who had known him.