You will forever be missed.

I miss you ❤️

Every year goes so fast.It seems just like yesterday that you left us.
Continue to rest in the Lords grace till we all meet again.
Uncle Adis.

Femi G, another year has rolled by without you, the memories of your short time here on earth keep us going with great difficulty. Continue to rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord. We miss you dearly son.

Femi----Remembering when we popped into Pittsburgh at the same time and hung out with Alex. You and Alex are great storytellers!! The three of us ate at a Chinese place I believe and went back to Alex's new apartment....you looked so dashing pulling up in your new car. I realized you had become Such a well-mannered and sweet talker of a young man, we had had a Canada break in seeing- we laughed and laughed. That was Fall 2011, Had no idea this would the last years of life. 

I have been reflecting on missing your 'proximity' and seeing so many on the photos we have said goodbye to- My mother in law in the Lagos Boat club and Tinuke's mom....Lessons for all of us to Value our loved ones. Learn your Loved ones Love language and speak it fluently!! Take everything in GRATITUDE not FOR GRANTED!! Aunty P loving you always....

Another birthday without you.
The ache continues.

Happy Birthday dear friend ❤️

“Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If any consolation is to ease the heartache, it’s the thought that God knows how good you are. ❤️ Perhaps the tears won’t stop now, still the Joy of Heaven and the Blessed Hope of being reunited there will soothe the heart.

Femi! I can’t believe it has been eight years since I got to speak to you, laugh with you, or simply exist in a world without you!

Life is so crazy and dynamic! I still remember how we used to run barefoot to each other’s houses (50ft away from each), and even when you moved and I moved and time passed. We still ended up in Houston together! We shopped for furniture and decorated your house together. Talked about our future and goals, tried new things together, made plans, and loved each other so dearly! I don’t think I’ve made or can make a friend that could fill the void you’ve left in my life.

I’m now friends with some of your close friends from childhood. People I never really knew until after. And I love them as if they were you because you loved them too and I think they do the same.

I miss talking to you, hearing your sage wisdom and advice! Doing nothing together, trying new restaurants, going grocery shopping with you and your mom. Going for brunch with your family. Buying Christmas presents together and random tshirts. Laughing until we cry! Going to watch movies at the cinemas with you, Tomi, and Walter.

It’s so crazy to think that I have been there for almost all your birthdays (when we were in the same city/country) since we met. September and October feel so weird without you.

I miss your strength and wisdom, but I’m very happy I got to know it because it guides me everyday.

I miss our friendship, it’s irreplaceable! I miss our walks, I miss my best friend! And I love you eternally! Happy birthday Femi! Thank you so much for being in and making such a big impact on my life.

Femi G, it’s another posthumous birthday, just as difficult for us as the previous ones. But I finally have the strength to visit your gravesite with mum. You are sorely missed son. Continue to rest peacefully in his bosom.

30 years ago, Labor Day was the 6th of September, and I went into labor. Quick and easy came out a perfectly healthy little boy. A bundle of joy with an unstoppable positive spirit. Love personified. Olufemi, Ayomide. Brave and kind, with a sage-like soul.

You lit up our world with your bright eyes, sunny smile, superlative intelligence, and humbly witty charm. I sang love songs to you as a baby. You serenaded me with them as a young man. “ You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, that makes me happy when clouds are grey. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away”.

I’m grateful that I had 22 years with you to show you how much I truly love ❤️ you. (I can almost hear your typical response: “Mum, you know I love you more”). You left 8 years ago, and my world stopped.

After the immobilizing “great sadness,” I’ve tried to keep living well to honor you. I went back to school to get an MSc in Psychology and now a Ph.D. to fill the gaps you left in my life. I never got to see you graduate. You were 3 months away from graduating when you fell ill. My certificates feel empty without you.

I’ve tried to stay focused on being the best version of myself every day. I’ve offered love to many as I knew you’d want me to. I’ve faced rejections and adversities that your presence would have eased. I’ve been in situations where your wise interventions would have soothed me. Particularly, I miss hearing, “Don’t worry, mum, we’ve got this.”

As a family, we’ve struggled to cope with your absence. You were the glue that held a lot of us together. I now understand Jacob’s cry, ‘Everything is crashing against me’ (Genesis 42:36). As a mother, all I keep learning to do is to carry the multifaceted pain with more grace. I remain grateful for the privilege of having been your mum.

Yet, sometimes, in my safe space, the ache erupts in an avalanche of tears. Some people think, “Oh, come on, you should have stopped crying by now!” Nobody seems to understand…. I’ll never have a mother-son dance at your wedding. I'll never hold your children in my arms. I'll never visit your home to say, Honey, I just came to you to get away from it all.

You would have been 30 years old today,
Oh, how different my life would have been. No words can ever express the depth and breadth of this loss.

You are unforgettable and irreplaceable. With all my heart and every fiber of my being, I really wish you were here .

Hey Femi, so at my bday party Immanuel and I were talking about you, and Tobenna was there too. It felt great to have all of us reminiscing on your gift to us of your friendship. I thank God for every moment we shared, even the cheeky ones . May our Good Lord grant you eternal rest in His Heavenly kingdom where there is no more pain or sorrow. Only Joy. Mwah FemiGiwa ❤️

7 years is supposed to mark COMPLETION! But when it comes to Femi, it can't be so. I still have moments when I feel you. I use you as an example to my boys...you truly are forever in our hearts. I felt bad because I didn't remember your death day...but know that I prefer to remember how you LIVED so Sept 6 is that special day for me.... May your spirit continue to embody whats BEST about making the BEST of the time we have on earth. None of us know how LONG we have, but using you as an example WE CAN decide the DEPTH!! Keep living in US! Through US who knew your energy and may we always carry at least a little of it...ALWAYS! love you Femi..#ProximityALWAYS

Another year gone by so quickly and your memories are still clear.
Sleep on Femi.We will all be together in Gods fold some day.

Thanking the Lord always, for your life, our friendship and His Will. Tobenna also sends his love. Miss you, Femi Giwa. ❤️

It’s another posthumous anniversary son, we cherish your memory but sorely missed you. Continue to rest peacefully in his bosom.

Femi,

Unforgettable in every way.

7 years on….the light, the love and joy you brought into my life still warms my ❤️ heart.

Tough journey, but the inspiration that you are strengthens and motivates me still…

I’m glad you came, I’m so very sad you’re gone.

I will always love you, remember you & honor you by being the best version of myself that would make you proud. You always made me so proud.

My greatest joy was being your mum, while you were here on earth. And even now that you’ve transcended into heaven, I will always love you, my exceptional gentleman son. My gentle genius.

Rest on….❤️ . You live on in my heart & many others ❤️❤️❤️❤️.

Mama Femi your tribute is blunt and honest.
It never gets easier
Just acceptance.

Thinking of you FemiGiwa lol. ❤️ Thank u for being a friend.

Rest on Femi, in the bosom of our Lord.

I can still see you in my minds eye clearly.
Missing your kind and gentle ways and your bravery when we went with you to the hospital.
——
Your leaving us is still fresh in our minds
One day we will all be together again in eternity

Femi,
So many things remind me of you daily!!! Truly forever in our hearts!

Happy Heavenly Birthday!

Aunty Patrenia

It’s another birthday son, while it does not get any easier, we are however steadfast in our belief that you are in a better place and resting peacefully with the Lord. We continue to sorely miss everything about you!!! Love you son.

Dear friend,

Time has passed since you left but it's still heavy nonetheless, I struggle to find the right words but I think of you all the time.

You and Ononuju being gone has been incredibly difficult to come to terms with. The memories of us as a trio in Dolphin and WSS are now a painful reminder of how fleeting life is, but I will try my best to cherish them all the same.

Rest in perfect peace, you're forever in my heart. Love and strength to Tomi and your mom always.

Chidozie

Well, you only asked me to do one thing... let me get on it ♥️♥️♥️

Need some Proximity

Oh! Dear God!!! This is tough!!!

Your Gele Head Model skills are missed my dear ♥️♥️.

Aunty Patrenia

Dear Femi I hope you are resting well in the Afterlife. This is a kind message to all the lucky souls Femi touched during his time with us.




From your "Little brother " Andrew Payton Onuoha

The time I had spent with you was short but worth remembering. Your memories forever live on in my head and the minds of my family for you are loved and remembered, peace to you and your family.


Onuoha John Julian Chiderah

You would have been 28 today.
God has you in his arms,
We have you in our hearts ♥️.
It’s been 6 years and
There’s still a gaping hole in our lives
I miss you honey.
I love you indescribably
Mum

Femi G, another posthumous birthday! It doesn’t get any easier, you remain in our thoughts as we struggle to continue without you. But we know you are in a better place with the Lord. Continue to rest in peace, son.

I can’t believe it has been 5 years already. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I came over on October 7, we had a long talk about life and living. You wanted me to go have fun at ACL and tell you all about it when I get back. I hadn’t seen you in 10 days, longest time apart since I came back from Nigeria. We were even planning a trip to Colorado with Kash.
I got back on a Monday and had tests that week so I couldn’t make it until Thursday. Thursday night, I was getting your brownies ready for weekend ritual, Thursday-Saturday sleepover and movie marathons. I had sent texts and didn’t get any replies, figured your meds might have knocked you out again. Then I got a call from Femi C saying that you had passed, I still remember the feeling of everything crumbling down. I just sat in my bed for hours trying to process how I had just missed you, I replayed a lot of scenarios of what if I just went on Monday, what if I didn’t go to ACL. I told my roommates, about it and everyone was in disbelief, we had you over for dinner not that long ago. You helped me build my bed from Ikea when I didn’t know how to, when I had just moved into my apartment. I sat in my bed that you built and held onto it for the rest of the night. I don’t cry a lot but I felt everything, every single emotion came crashing in as the hours went by. It felt like I was dying inside. My best friend you know, I had known you since I moved back to Nigeria and into my house in UPDC. From the moment we met in 2001, we grew from neighbors to best friends and family. We were always together throughout your health journey, from 2014 thanksgiving till October 7th. I remember every Thursday after chemo/doctor visits, driving an hour to get you your favorite oxtails and beef patties from a dinghy Jamaican restaurant and snacks so we could have our weekly movie marathon. We went shooting at gun ranges, went to Rodeo together, went dancing at Stereo live and many more adventures together like you didn’t just get a round of chemo in the morning because you loved life too much. During those 8 months, you truly lived and gave so much of yourself to everyone around you. You never let cancer break you or alter your personality, you fought everyday to beat it. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget you. The bond we shared together can never be replaced.
I love and miss you Femi, but I am happy that you’re at peace and no longer in pain. Keep resting in peace❤️

Femi G, today makes it 5 years since you left us to be with the Lord. Time is not healing our wounds, it’s been tough five years without you. But God knows best. Continue to rest in peace my son.

Femi G, another twelve long months without you. You are sorely missed everyday. Continue to rest in the HIS bossom.

Hey Femi, I just found out recently. I'm sorry I hadn't checked in, we lost touch not too long after you came to my yard. Lol them times, youthful moments. Thank you for being you. And thanks for touching me. Rest Well in Perpetual Light. Amen.

Only heard about this recently. Femi was my classmate in secondary school. Whitesands, and he had to be the funniest guy in class. He never argued with anyone and he just seemed to be a super fun loving and happy guy. That’s how I remember him.

I missed the 6th, but Femi, you remain in our hears always.
Much love
Aunty Helen

Live on in cyberspace Femi.We will all be there with you someday.

OHHH, Femi is still present in my heart and always brings a rush of emotion when I think of him. What a lovely young man and BIG soul, he is missed.

fx

Happy birthday Femi. Remembering you always.

Femi, it’s another birthday with the Lord! It never got easier, but we continue to cherish the privilege of having you for those few years. Continue to rest in peace. Missing you son!!

Happy Birthday bro! I don't know how I have only just seen this. It's always hard celebrating this day cause it was one of the only things we had in common.

Till we meet again

I am in shock. I went to a Rugby event today. Met with an old rugby student that I coached at Whitesands school. The first person I asked for was Femi because he was an extraordinary athlete. Very disciplined, respectful and polite. I was shocked when I heard the news. I was praying that it was not through. Mrs Joke, your son is my hero and will always be remembered. How is Tomi? Remain strong. He is definitely in a better place. He is in God's hands.

What a couple of days!!! I was looking for movie times on my phone yesterday cos my husband and I wanted to go to the movies...when it hit me! Right in between the eyes and at the pit of my stomach. So unexpected that I was fully winded!! Memories of my son (Femi) and I at the last movie theater trip we took together two years ago.The wholesomeness of our "alone time", the conspiratorial laughter as we left the movie theater AMC. The jokes, as he drove us home and the unexplainable pain in my gut from knowing I would never see him again on this side of heaven. OMG. All the emotions I'm learning to keep in check came bubbling out, as silent tears rolled down my eyes. All I could manage to whisper were two words "O God!" The other words choked in my throat as a sought to draw my breathe.... My husband read my sharp intake of breath correctly and he silently turned around to head home. "You okay?" He asked . All I could manage to say between body wracking sobs was "It's hurting again". He put his hand on mine as he parked the car, "I know, honey, it will always hurt. But you have been so strong. You have to remain strong, Femi will ALWAYS be a part of our lives! And we must learn to remember him with joy, not with tears."
I haven't been able to stop crying since then.... oh God, it hurts!!! It still hurts so much and always will. I really miss my baby.

My heart hurts

The struggle to cope continues. It is as difficult today as it was three years ago. Your life, though very short, was a blessing to us. Continue to rest peacefully in HIS bosom son.

We Remember You
At sunrise and at Sunset
We remember you at times in between
In every single day.
We remember your kindness, your maturity,
Your wise words, Your love, Your courage,
We still cannot get our heads around the fact that you are gone,
We Cherish every memory,
We draw strength in knowing you are in a better place
Yet we miss you….
We miss you daily, we miss you deeply
Unforgettable, Irreplaceable, Incomparable.
Femi, the void you left can never be filled
We try to carry on as best we can,
but the loss, the emptiness, the longing
Remains with us.
Our lives will never be the same.
“Love” doesn’t even come close, in describing what I feel for you,
My son, my confidant and my friend.

Missing you today as always son. Continue to rest in his bosom.

You are missed everyday, son.

Femi I still feel your presence.Its just the insignificant physical part that is not there.Uncle Adis.