Overview:
The family of former FSM President Joseph J. Urusemal is mourning his untimely passing in Palau. Remembered as both a national leader and a devoted brother, his loved ones shared moments of quiet strength and deep loss in his final days. 🙏💐
By: Faith Chen
KOROR, Palau — The family of former Federated States of Micronesia President Joseph J. Urusemal is mourning his untimely passing in Palau on Sept. 17, 2025, remembering him both as a national leader and a devoted brother.
Urusemal, who hailed from Yap’s Woleai and Ifalik communities, served one term as FSM president after winning the 2003 election. His passing has left both his family and his nation reflecting on his contributions and his care for loved ones.
His eldest brother, John F. Tawreryan, shared the family’s experience of loss. “When I arrived in Palau, Joseph could no longer speak, but he knew I was there,” Tawreryan said, describing the moment he stood by his brother’s side.
Tawreryan explained that he first learned of his brother’s declining health while attending a legislative assembly in Pohnpei earlier this month. The decision to travel to Palau weighed heavily on him as his own family faced health challenges back home.
“Joseph always put family first,” Tawreryan said, recalling how his brother stayed behind earlier this year to care for ailing relatives while he attended his first legislative session after winning a senatorial seat in May.
The late president’s legacy, family members said, is not only marked by his time in office but also by the quiet strength and devotion he showed in his personal life.
Rosary services for Urusemal are being held in Palau through Sept. 25, 2025.