Final goodbye to National Artist Juree
Entertainers and fans alike are mourning the passing of National Artist Juree Osiri, who was considered an icon by the new generation of celebrities.
Pa Ju, or Aunty Ju as she was known affectionately, died at her Chiang Rai home yesterday. She was 81. Juree is survived by her only son, actor and director Noppol Komarachun.
Veteran artist Settha Sirachaya lamented Juree’s passing, saying that the entertainment industry had lost a rare artist whose talents ranged from singing and acting to doing voiceovers.
“She was like a mother to me,” he said, recalling their first encounter 36 years ago when Juree offered him a role in “Fai Gam Prae”, which won Settha the national Tukkata Tong Award.
In her later years, she contributed to the entertainment industry by encouraging the younger generation of artists to be disciplined and determined to produce quality work. She, in collaboration with Settha, was also behind the Senior Artists Club, which aimed to help unfortunate artists in their old age.
Actress Jarunee Desneige said she considered Juree a great teacher. “I once starred in a film with her, and during the drive to work from her home, she would give me so many good tips.”
People have also been posting messages via social media in Juree’s memory.
“Rest in peace, dear Pa and thanks for teaching us all that love is the greatest thing on Earth,” TV host Wutthithorn “Woody” Milintajinda tweeted.
The Thai Film Archive also paid tribute on its Facebook page, lamenting that it did not have a chance to get Juree’s hand and foot print for its database.
“She was not available, and during the floods she was living in Chiang Rai,” a staff member said on the page.
Juree is perhaps best known for her voiceovers during the Thai film industry’s golden age in the 70s and 80s. At that time, she was the voice of all leading actresses, including Petchara Chaowaraj, Pisamai Vilaisak, Aranya (Ngamwong) Sirachaya, Paowana Chanachit, Naowarat Yuktanan and Lalana Sulawan.
She won several awards and honours, before being named National Artist in 1998.
Her funeral rites will be held from today at Bangkok’s Makutkasatariyaram Temple. As National Artist, the Culture Ministry will provide Bt135,000 for funeral expenses and another Bt35,000 for merit making. Her family will be given a budget of up to Bt120,000 to publish a book on her life and work.
