I was blessed and grateful to know you,  first meeting at our CRHP #35 Women's Retreat.  I was impressed with your knowledge of scripture and sharing as a child you didn't appreciate your mother's steadfastness to learn but appreciated as a young adult. I enjoyed our discussions  when I drove you home sometimes.  I will always cherish your kindness you showed me when from your hospital bed you asked about my brother,  Fr. James and his health.  You will be truly missed, but will always be remembered. 

I know you are in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.  Our blessed mother too! No more pain or suffering.  

Samuel said one of your favorite prayers was Hail Holy Queen.  

Kelly Fristch (CRHP Sister)

Amy Kemper (CRHP Sister)

A Tribute to Our Godchild

My Daughter, as I fondly called you:

You suffered too much pain and grief. We feel so touched because we were not physically present to share the moments of pain with you. Now we have a hole in our hearts that nothing can fill. Just after your wedding we shared some good memories under the shade of the trees in the compound. You ate some egusi pudding and you were so excited to get the ingredients for that ‘type’, so that you could prepare for your husband, Sammy. I remember you would hang on the phone getting the ingredients and cooking along from a distance until it is ready – just because you were a nice and caring wife.

You were a real perfect beauty: so loving, so gentle, so amazing, so calm, so knowledgeable, and so determined. God took His time to create you. You lived so short. God has a reason; probably, he did not want you to be contaminated with the evils of the world. He allowed you to go through the pains you endured so as to mortify your body for the heavenly bliss.

You are our angel and saint, gone ahead marked with the sign of the cross.

The legacy you left us is that of LOVE and HAPPINESS. We will live it on.

Adieu, our GODCHILD UNTIL WE MEET TO PART NO MORE.

MOMMY MBAH ELISABETH

Growing up as babies, loving you was the easiest thing because you were everyone’s baby. We called you Mother because you embodied the care and love of a Mother from childhood. 

Primary school days were filled with joy, waking up and rushing for warm cornflakes, playing during break time. Our sugar balls moments and yoghurt time. 

I can’t forget how much we bonded and looked forward to Sundays because after church we could sneak out of the kitchen and drink garri together, planning that as adults we will buy 1 large bucket of garri and 1 pack of cube sugar. 

Whenever we went to visit Mummy’s supermarket, I’ll get you a flower. You’ll rush to me to fix your sandals in PNEU during school break. 

You made us all so proud because you were the most intelligent. Achieving and shattering glass ceilings. You would solve our maths equations without using a paper and pen. Mother, you always had pocket money to give me as a child because everyone gifted you. 

Your life was dedicated to serving God from early childhood. You sang in church when I was 16 and moved the whole church to tears, Mummy gifted her car to the Pastor and we walked back home in Fontem. You were a child full of God’s grace, God’s love, God’s blessings and you inspired us to be better. 

It’s impossible to write about your life into a small paper.

Whenever I visited you during your University days in the United States, we would exchange smart phones but what was amazing was you giving me your phone to read your messages and it left me proud of the kind of lady you were from your interactions with friends and mates.

Throughout your professional career, you made time for holidays, you gave my son Chris and Mummy the best holidays in America. 

When you found love with Samuel and told me, I was super excited for what was coming because I was sure of this gentleman. You made your dream wedding come true and took life changing decisions because you believed in love as much as you gave love to everyone. Love truly came back to you in a million fold. 

You both enjoyed love and peace, your marriage was a true testament of what love is and should be. When you called me that you were pregnant, I was over the moon. We enjoyed the streaks of your belly growing week by week. I couldn’t make it to your gender reveal but you made every disposition for me to join through Zoom. Expecting a boy was just the magical moment. Gabriel brought you joy, fulfillment and happiness. He enjoyed how you and your husband called each other Lovey to the point where he called you guys Lovey as well. 

When you left the hospital with the diagnosis of colon cancer, I was shaking and asking God he should rather let me suffer and not you! Because you deserved nothing but happiness, peace and joy for all the love you give to everyone. I’m still very sorry Mother. You never deserved a single day of suffering. 

Thank God we had the opportunity to dance again, sing together to all genres of music. We still enjoyed time with our kids and spoke of everything we loved talking about.

You saw visions all your life and they always happened. You guided my path with your wisdom. You fasted and prayed for me and my daughter Haven and my son Chris. You told me you were so inspired by Chris telling you that he’s coming next year for University and he wants to see you alive and well. 

You showed strength and courage I’ve never seen in all my life.  Through you I met wonderful people. Your CHRP sisters, your best friend, your community, I witnessed love I’ve never seen. 

You told me, you only wished for one thing for me in life. To experience true love and happiness. I’m happy to tell you, things seem like they are coming together and I believe God will make it happen. 

You told me to bring everyone near your bedside and you said you’re tired, you love everyone and your only wish is that we let you go in peace. 

You wished that your passing will bring all families together. You said you spent the best days with your mumisco and so you don’t want her to cry. 

Holding your hands that faithful morning and watching you peacefully go, all that came to my mind was the previous night when you asked me, “Pa, are you afraid to leave me alone?” Yes, I was scared to leave you alone that night and today I’m hurt to see you for the last time, letting you go physically forever. 

Mother, I cannot write about your life into a short tribute. You were larger than life. Your legacy will live forever and we will never forget how you blessed us and made us happy. You called yourself Princess from a young age, that came into existence. You’ll forever be my princess.

Thank you for loving me. Thank you for everything. I will love you forever. Please, rest in perfect peace till we meet again. 

As you called me, Chief, Baku man, Pa, your Odogwu. 

Albert Nchinda