Blog | HPRG A homage to Virginie – Hotels Paris Rive Gauche Blog

A homage to Virginie

Since Viriginie left us, not a day passes without us remembering her…



(Virginie laughing with her red pullover)

Virginie arrived in 1992, freshly 22 years old. During the fifteen years she spent with us we went through storms, conquests and unstoppable laughing fits with this pretty young girl who became a woman.
Both intimate and discrete, Virginie was a precious pearl, appreciated as much by the guests – whom she cheerily treated with intelligence – as the staff with whom she got along perfectly. We all have a strong memory of Virginie, remembering her ‘joie de vivre’, vivacity, spontaneous bursts of laughter, endearing clumsiness, intelligent remarks, beauty, devotion and lots of other things that made us love and now make us miss her. The walls of the Hôtel des Grands Hommes that surrounded her for all those years echo with her presence still. Despite her fierce desire to fight and her courage, illness won over her in the end. It seems so unfair to see such a brilliant person disappear. Life goes on, but inevitably a part of Virginie remains within us.

Corinne Moncelli (Hôtels Paris Rive Gauche owner)

Alain Bisotti
Virginie insisted in being present for the first edition of “A hotel photo, an artist’s view”. Despite being tired she was there, smiling… and that’s the image I keep of her. In her honour, we have decided to rename the prize voted for by the staff of the Hôtels Paris Rive Gauche. It will now be known as the “Virginie Clément Prize”.

Below are a few words from people who knew Virginie.

Yvonne et Jean Bréthous
You were a ray of sunshine at the hotel, always smiling and attentive. Your good humour, your ‘joie de vivre’, but also your quirks, made you this endearing girl, loved by everyone. You were part of our family, and your death has affected us a lot. Your memory will be forever engraved in our hearts.

Marie José
Some people, whatever their mood or the difficult period they are going through, always keep smiling and happy. That’s what Virginie was like. Always smiling, bubbly, jovial no matter what, she had a way of passing on her good humour and ‘joie de vivre’. She also had the most rare of human qualities: being caring and thinking of others before herself. It’s difficult to talk about you in the past tense Virginie, but the lesson of courage that you have given all of us, and the memory of someone so dear that you have left us, mean that you will always be in our memories.

Sophranie
I think back at all the good times I had with Virginie and they were all excellent. Everyone knows she had a real ‘joie de vivre’ and that she knew how to transform any disastrous situation into something to laugh about. My best moments with her were when I tried – in vain – to teach her how to use the various Excel files at the hotel… and Lord knows there are quite a few. It was beyond funny! I can see it in my head but it’s difficult to explain in the right words. Her death was a terrible blow and made me very sad. My thoughts are with her mother during this terrible time. Virginie’s courage in the face of her illness was exemplary and I hope with all my heart that everyone recognises this. Life is so short, and she managed to show us and tell us (the rare times when I could get her on the telephone) that every moment is precious and worth living. I will miss her a lot physically, but whenever I think of her I see a smile and infectious good humour. Nicole Tress
When I think of Virginie I hear her laugh, that so-special sound that filled the hall of the Hôtel des Grands Hommes. Those crazy outbursts of laughter!! A giving young woman with whom I spent some really good friendly years… I’m devastated.

Michael V
I will always remember you as he first person that taught me the ropes back at the Hôtel des Grands Hommes, then as my colleague, then as a friend during our nights out together as fellow receptionists. You will remain in our memories as someone who was humble, with a great sense of humour, just someone unforgettable.

Stéphanie B
I met Virginie at the Hôtel des Grands Hommes. Virginie was a spontaneous, happy person who loved life. I remember one day we wanted to go to the Chevreuse Valley near Paris. We started off in the car at 10am and somehow arrived at Disneyland around midnight. Virginie’s sense of direction was as good as mine. We got lost in lots of small towns, Lord knows where, but we never got cross with each other. Quite the opposite in fact= we didn’t stop laughing during the whole voyage, mocking ourselves and sometimes people that we had met along the way. I will always remember the great laughter of that weekend. I miss her terribly.

Virginie at the Hôtel des Grands Hommes