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Big mummy Mrs Aduke Caroline Folayan was such a love able woman. I was opportune to live with her from 1980 November till late 1982. Always full of hospitality and love, of course she took me like her own daughter and we never had any itch at any day. Her husband was my dad immediate elder brother but l did relate better with her more than my big daddy so much so that even when l have somewhere to go to sleep over out of the house once l tell her and she will talk it over with her husband and the rest is history. She loved happiness like ki lode? She loved love, always happy and laughs at any given opportunity and her type of laughter is infectious, she loves given a lot. I could remember the customized  TShirt  she made with my name written on it during one of her trips to UK. I so much cherished it especially because it came from her. She loves making same dress for us despite my age difference with my cousins, she will take her time to park us to photographer and we would have special shots together abeg we had fun growing up na understatement courtesy of this wonderful big mummy. Whenever her other siblings comes around ( the three musketeers) it means a lot of house shores work for me but l never felt it because of so much gist and laughter from all of them. The story of 6 pieces of dodo meta pere from Professor Mrs Olufunke Eegunjobi, it doesn’t matter the number of times they will all laugh about it as if it was just coming from the grape vine. How many will l mention is it Aunty Abake’s chilled beer that must always follow a plate of amala with ewedu soup. Or big mummy’s love for isale pot of eko riro. After eating the Eko riro with Okro soup. The burnt Eko from the bottom of the pot should not be thrown away, mummy will rinse it and put in a plate as another important delicacy even more important more than the real Eko riro. I can’t end this tribute without mentioning how we all look forward to farmers bringing their farm proceeds from their farm while passing in front of our house at Oda road quarters Akure. We would buy fresh vegetables, fresh corn and bunches of plantains, which makes me and my cousins vulnerable to eating fried plantains every time which are usually specially cut into big sizes. A beg l can go on and on or is it the special personified way she calls me ? Saade miiii. She will always call to ask for my welfare, my husband and my children. Oh l will miss you greatly. The last time l saw you was when you dropped me off at the Warri motor park in Akure on the following day after Toyosi’s introduction ceremony and l was admiring your strength of driving yourself at that age without knowing that was going to be my last time of seeing you. Well to God be the glory you indeed lived a good life and you’re already resting in the bosom of your maker, sun re o iya oninu rere we will meet on the resurrection morning where we shall meet to part no more! From Folasade Folayan- Ofi.

I just wanted to share a few memories to describe how wonderful, selfless, giving and loving Mrs Caroline Aduke Folayan was!!  She was my Second Mummy.  She practically raised me all my life!  She raised me alongside my mum, as many photos bear witness  to!  While my mum was a diplomat abroad, I lived with Mummy Caroline for the initial stages of my life and later adult stages.   You can see me in various photos with her,  sister Morenike, Folabi,  Bolaji,  my other cousins and family members. 
   I will start with sometime in the 1970s (or was it 1980s) when one of our beloved cousins died; she had been hospitalized for a long time..  I was living in 139 Oda Road then with Bolaji,  Folabi and Morenike and attending Feggicola (Federal Govt Girls College Akure). When the news came,  I remember Mummy Aduke dropping everything and taking the next available vehicle to Ibadan!!  She was distraught throughout the day and the way she carried on, you would have thought she lost her own child!  But that is how she was, she took all of us Ilemia children as her own!  Whatever affected any one of us - Dele, Segun, Tolu, Kike, or Me - affected her!!  We were a close -knit family. 
     I lived a greater part of my life with  Mummy Caroline Aduke Folayan (hereafter I will refer to her as "Mummy ").  While my  own mum was serving as a Diplomat abroad,  I lived with Mummy in Lagos and attended Corona School with Morenike as well. Much of those days I don't remember,  except for the various photos of me that I see taken like I've mentioned.  We lived in Majaro Street,  Akoka, Lagos.   So Mummy obviously took good care of me selflessly while my mum worked abroad.  On birthdays, we took lots of pictures, there were lots of friends  and always a birthday cake!  Mummy was a selfless and giving person.
   It was after I  finished Primary School in Corona that I went to Akure to attend secondary in Feggicola.  Do I need to say that Mummy took care of me very well while in Akure too?? 
   While I was in Feggicola for two years, Mummy paid regular visits to me,  but never empty - handed: she always greeted me with Milo, tins of milk, Cabin biscuits, sugar and lots of "Garri " to soak!! 
   I remember her as someone who could  give her last for somebody else!   She could share everything she had, even though she didn't have much.  She wasn't "rich" by worldly standards, but very rich in Love!!!!
   I lived with Mummy later in my life also, as an adult. What can I say?  She prepared a Room especially for me in Ijapo Estate,  Akure and prepared delicacies for me!  I learned how to cook and eat "Ekuru", "Eepa" and "Rorowo" vegetables if I'm not mistaken. 
  Mummy loved everybody and received everybody well that came to her house or came her way. 
  Mummy loved News and the Radio and a day wouldn't go by without her listening to her transistor radio.  
  As my own mum's sister,  what can I begin to say?   If not for Mummy,  I don't think my mum would have a home to retire to!!   I hear that from the acquisition of the Land,  to the laying of the foundation and the bricks,  to the painting and the roofing, it was Mummy who took on the Responsibility while my mum served abroad! 
   To further illustrate Mummy's selflessness,  I remember when I was in Maryland, USA and I received a call from Bolaji saying "Sister Seyi,  I'm at the airport,  I've arrived."  Thrilled at his coming,  I went to pick him.   By and by, as the days went on and we familiarised,  our conversation led to me asking the question "so how exactly did you get the money to make this trip?"  and his reply was "my mum had to sell some of her shares so I can travel!" I was dumbfounded. Mummy was truly a sacrificial person.
 As for Mummy's relationship with all her sisters,  no one needs to say that they were close-knit. All the photos they took together attest to it.  How about when Mummy and her sisters got together?  It was laughter galore!!  I cannot forget Mummy's infectuous laugh.. 
  Now to talk about Mummy's driving days! I will never forget all those trips we made from Akure to Ado-Ekiti and back when she was still a Customary Court Judge.  Let's just say that a bicycle moved faster than her (exaggeration)!  But she was always cautious on the road.  All the cars would overtake her and honk.  But Mummy didn't "send" them.  She always told them - "Fly".  Well,  her accident - free record shows that it is probably better to be cautious.
  Mummy was energetic, just like daddy Dele Ilemia!  I couldn't keep up with daddy Dele when he walked.  I'm sure if not for the age limit by law, Mummy would have continued driving. 
  When I worked briefly at Cholamot French Language Centre in Ijapo, Mummy taught me, "always contribute something to the house wherever you live, no matter how small your salary,  even if its a Loaf of bread."  Valuable advice. 
  Mummy never missed a day of my birthdays to call me and sing "Happy Birthday to you!!"  Neither did Mummy miss a Christmas to say to me "Merry Christmas."  And what about New Year?   I cannot forget all her prayers and "Odun a y'aabo o!!"   God, where will I hear that now?"
   My memories of Mummy Caroline Aduke Ibijolatan Folayan are too numerous!  Even in the last days of her life,  she was ensuring that I keep in touch with my mum!   God will bless her immensely for all her efforts.
  I must say here now that I have not reciprocated half of the Love that I received from Mummy!!  Like the saying goes : "condition made crayfish to bend".  I am very Sorry!  Only God will repay her in kindness for all the wonderful things she did for me, by blessing her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren forever!!!
   I just want to end by saying :
THANK YOU Mummy for all your Love!
THANK YOU Mummy for being my Second Mummy! 
THANK YOU MA  for raising me!
THANK YOU for all your Selfless Giving! 

God bless you with Eternity Ma and Rest in Peace MA!!

Fondly yours, "A - Sheyi - Sheyi!!"