TWO sisters have come together to keep their brother’s memory alive after he lost his life two years ago to cancer.
Maria Myers and her younger sister Sinead Quinn have opened a juice bar ‘Jayrock Juices’ on New Line in Apperley Bridge to remember their brother Stephen Jarockyj.
Stephen, who was described by Maria as a ‘wonderful’ and ‘laid back’ man, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in the summer of 2020.
As part of his cancer recovery, Stephen began juicing at home and decided once he got better, he would open his own juice bar but sadly died at the age of 37 before this could happen.
Maria said: “We opened the juice bar in his memory and we used his old business ‘Jayrock Joiners’ as part of the name.
“We’ve got pictures of Stephen all over the shop and it’s just about remembering him and getting to see the kids.
“We really wanted to thank Marie Curie as that’s where Stephen went just before he died, and the charity supported his wife and children a lot.
“They were fantastic with them.”
The cafe sells juices and fresh food made on the premises, where customers can watch their food being made.
The menu is vegetarian and offers salads, organic soups, and acai bowls.
Maria added: “All the food is made fresh and we are trying to be as organic as possible.
“Our coffee and most of our ingredients are locally sourced because we want to promote and support local businesses.
“We’ve tried to stick to as many raw ingredients as possible as Stephen didn’t want to put anything in that could make cancer worse.”
Stephen’s children also work at the juice bar over the weekend, keeping his legacy alive and keeping the family together.
“He was the middle child and the centrepiece of our family."
Maria described the juice bar as a 'family affair’ as the whole family has come together to keep Stephen’s memory alive.
“It’s a family affair with Stephen’s children Lewis & Olivia both working on a weekend, and lots of help from other close family members," she said.
Tomorrow (June 24) marks two years since Stephen's passing and his sisters have decided the profits made on Saturday will be donated to Marie Curie in memory of Stephen and how much the charity aided his family.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here