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His Life

Biography of Mr. Song Stephen Chongwain

October 21, 2016

Biography of Mr. Song Stephen Chongwain Mr. Song Stephen Chongwain was born on November 19th 1939 in Wombong-Kom to Bartholomew Songku and Susana Fuentum. He was the fourth child in a family of eight. In 1950 he attended St Anthony’s Catholic school Njinikom where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) and was immediately offered a part-time teaching job in Fuanantui.  After two years of teaching and still burning with the passion to permanently embrace the teaching vocation, he enrolled at the Teachers Training College in Bambui in 1962 and obtained a Teachers Grade 3 certificate.  In 1973 and 1983 he obtained the teacher’s Grade 2 and Grade 1 certificates respectively as well as a Diploma in Education (ACP) from the College of Teacher’s in London. His teaching career brought him to Njinikom, Nkambe and Bambui where he permanently settled until his death. In 1970 the young and ambitious Stephen met and married the love of his life, Fuen Lawrentia Song and God blessed the couple with six children: Natang Priscilla Song, Chiatum Nestor Song, Nkuo Walters Song, Fuentum Emma Song (RIP), Song Eugene Chianain, Yusimbom Jude Song and nine grandchildren whom he loved and cherished. Mr. Song was a loving, kind and caring husband, father and grandfather who worked so hard throughout his life to provide for his family. His kindness, generosity and sense of humor made a profound impact in the lives of all those who came in contact with him. His children remember him as a no nonsense disciplinarian who insisted on four cardinal values, hard work, education, family and above all the Holy Mass. He was a staunch practicing Catholic Christian who attended Holy Mass every single morning to start his day and always prayed that his four boys will serve God in the sacred priesthood.  However, God decided to choose just one, Fr Eugene for the priestly ministry. Pa Song was also a devoted member of the Bona Mors confraternity, a Catholic prayer group that helps members to prepare for a “happy death”.   As a teacher, Stephen was a passionate, energetic and dedicated catholic schoolteacher who inspired and encouraged young people to become the-best-version-of-themselves. He was not just passionate about teaching he also believed in the core values and richness of catholic education, which he upheld and faithfully handed down to the young people he taught. In recognition of his extraordinary work and outstanding service to Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, he received the Best Teacher of the millennium Award from Archbishop Paul Verdzekov in 2000 and later retired that same year.  In 2010 he received another award from Pope Benedict XVI for outstanding services rendered to Mother Church. In the last couple of years, Pa Song wrestled with ailing and failing health. It was hard to watch a one time vibrant and vigorous man suddenly slowed down by the excruciating pains and sufferings of sickness. He suffered from Diabetes and in January of 2013 he had a debilitating stroke that changed his life forever. In spite of medical diagnosis and doctors’ allegations that he was going to die soon, Pa Song, true to his resilience and fighting spirit lived on for almost four more years to the total disbelief of his doctors. He was described by one of his doctors as “the miracle man.” Interestingly, Pa Song faced the daily grind of his various maladies with grace and patience, without ever whining or complaining. He accepted every moment of his suffering as a sharing in the passion of Christ whom he loved and served so faithful throughout his life. On Sunday October 16, he showed some disturbing signs of fatigue and complete lost of appetite. He was rushed to the General Hospital in Bamenda where he passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife Song Lawrentia on October 17, 2016, the exact same day his fourth child, Emma Fuentum Song died in 2007. Pa Song was also initiated as the Quarter Head of the Kom community in Bambui on the 23rd of March 2004, by the Kwifon of Kom at Laikom . His legacy will live on forever in his wife of 46 years, his five surviving children, his nine grandchildren, siblings, family members friends and the thousands of people we may never know whose lives he touched and transformed at a time when they needed the comfort of a mentor, a teacher and a father.  He was an icon and a larger than life figure that has written his name in the history books for generations to come. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace in the bosom of Abraham. Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine et lux perpetua luceat ei!  Requiescat in pace!