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Naomie Olindo's Boyfriend Metul Shah Helped Her Pay Tribute to Her Late Father
The Southern Charm beau found it "incredibly rewarding" to honor Joel Olindo.
After sharing the news of her father's passing in December, Naomie Olindo returned to social media to share a touching tribute to her late loved one.
Naomie posted a sweet photo of her dad, Joel Olindo, on Instagram on January 2, along with a link in her bio to his obituary on the J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home website. The obituary details Joel's life from his birth in Paris, France on August 18, 1951 to the day of his passing on December 20, 2019 at the age of 68 after a 12-month battle with metastatic esophageal cancer.
Joel's loved ones provided more insight into his adventurous and accomplished life in the obituary, including his success in martial arts, in the restaurant industry, and in real estate. However, those achievements paled in comparison to Joel's proudest moments: marrying his wife Carole in 1990 and welcoming his first and only child, Naomie, in 1992.
"From that day on, Joel and Carole were both true subordinates to the true love of their lives, their only daughter. He taught her how to be strong and independent, loving and gentle, shrewd and clever, but most of all, how to follow in his accomplishing footsteps in business and in family life," the obituary said. "The bond Joel shared with Carole and Naomie was deep, rare, and their love for each other was palpable. The three were always together working, talking and laughing- Joel's favorite pastime. Joel loved to push his daughter to learn in life and in business, and was extremely proud of his little, but mighty, family of 3."
The obituary also noted that Joel's "most memorable accomplishment in his short 68 years is the love he imparted on those closest to him." However, it also made sure to mention "his inclination for pranks" and "he can finally rest knowing that yes, he was the best of the best in the matter."
Toward the end of the obituary, it describes how Joel, Carole, and Naomie emigrated to the United States in 2000 after winning green cards through a lottery and settled in Charleston. "Fast forward 19 years, and a man that started with nothing was able to build a group of fruitful restaurants, properties, and most importantly of friends that he loved and considered family," the obituary said.
The obituary concluded, "Joel: a serial entrepreneur, a notorious prankster, a creative artist, a world traveler, an incredibly loving husband, an exemplary father, a fiercely loyal friend, and a self-described former baby always interested in having a laugh. And laugh he did."
Naomie opened up about the difficulty of penning this obituary in her Instagram Story. "Writing an obituary for someone you love is incredibly hard," she said while sharing a photo of her dad. "Summarizing a life like Joel's is impossible, but we're so thankful for the help of great friends and [Metul Shah]."
It sounds like Metul couldn't have been more honored to assist with the tribute. "Incredible people make it incredibly rewarding to write about," he said of helping out with the obituary in his Instagram Story.
A wake will be held for friends and family in Joel's honor at his Mount Pleasant, South Carolina restaurant NICO on Saturday, January 4, according to the obituary.
