17/07/2026
Today, our hearts are heavy with grief as our beloved Laura is laid to rest in her home village of Falelatai. Over the last ten years, we had the absolute privilege of watching a rare gem of an employee transform into an irreplaceable, deeply cherished member of our Mariyon Supermart family. Nearly a decade of shared mornings, hard work, and laughter has come to a close, and the void she leaves behind is immeasurable.
Laura shared a truly unique and special relationship with our boss, Vern. She earned a level of trust that few others ever did. She was the very first staff member ever entrusted with the keys to the company vehicle, a testament to her reliability from the very beginning. When our store ran the SMC canteen at Vaimoso, Vern didn’t have to worry for a second because Laura was at the helm. She managed the operations, oversaw the handling of the cash, and guarded the boss’s instructions with fierce loyalty.
By last year, Vern gave her the ultimate authority to deal with daily business matters. She became the gatekeeper of our team; she was the one who interviewed you if you wanted a job, and Vern trusted her instincts completely on whether you were a fit for the company. She also ruled the kitchen with a firm but caring hand. Laura called the shots on staff meals, famously deciding to cancel cooking on any given day if she felt the staff were being ungrateful. Especially, when they complained about eating herring. She knew there were people in this world without food, and she wouldn't tolerate ungratefulness toward a free meal. Vern simply stepped back and let her decide.
Yet, for all her fierce discipline, Laura was the absolute life of the party. At our end-of-year gatherings and staff get-togethers, she brought so much joy to us all. She was always the first to break the ice and start the karaoke, the first to hit the dance floor, and the one who made everyone laugh. Everyone loved her vibrant, unstoppable spirit.
Even this year, when health challenges arose and she told Vern she wasn’t fit to drive anymore due to frequent headaches, she still wanted to work. When Vern asked her what she wanted to do instead, she immediately answered that she wanted to be the cashier because she felt sorry there were not enough cashiers. She loved being cashier.
Laura was the definition of integrity, loyalty, and absolute warmth. She was an extraordinary employee, but more importantly, she was our sister, aunty and our family.
Manuia lau malaga Laura, faafetai i lou faamaoni ma lou galue malosi mo le tatou kamupani. Faafetai i le Atua ona o oe. Faamafanafana le agaga o le Alii i le aiga faanoanoa.
We love you, Laura. Until we meet again…
Mariyon
