Mama Maria was born Maria Manyi Ewunkem on June 20th 1943 to late Papa Dominic Nfongen Ewongkem and late Mama Lucy Esuma Ewongkem.  She was baptized four days after on June 24, 1943. She had her first Holy Communion on December 25, 1951.  She was confirmed on May 16th 1952.  All these catholic milestones happened in Catholic Church Okoyong Mamfe.

She got married on October 7, 1961 to Mr. Augustine Fonge Forsac.  She was blessed to give birth to seven. Two passed away.
she taught in Catholic School Afap, Mamfe and later on in Catholic school Okoyong Mamfe

 She went to California, USA briefly in 1990 to help raise her newly born grandson for a short while and then returned to Cameroon to take care of her ailing father who passed away in 1992.  After her father passed away, she moved to the USA in late 1992 were she spent the next 10 years helping to raise her grandchildren.

Mama Maria was a devoted and practicing catholic with an unshakable faith and years of dedication in service to the catholic ministry.  She was a teacher with the Catholic Education system for about 40 years and she was a dedicated member of the Okoyong CWA (Catholic Women Association) for more than 3 decades holding the position of Secretary for a couple of years. She was also a long time member of the Credit Union of Okoyong, Mamfe for many years.

 She loved to sing and dance and was a key member of the Catholic Church Okoyong  Mamfe choir so much so that if she ever missed church for any reason which rarely happened the reverend father's first stop after mass was at her house to check on her because missing church was a rarity.

Service to her community, her family and her friends was Mama Maria's calling.  For example: Who wins parent of the year in her grandson's school when the mother of that grandson is right there?  That is exactly what happened at her grandson's school in Southfield Michigan, USA. She regularly attended his parent-teacher conferences and volunteered in his class when needed.   Because of her dedication to her grandson Darren, she won the PARENT OF THE YEAR award and got to go on a Christmas shopping trip.

She returned to Cameroon in 2002 and made her permanent residence in Buea, South West Region. She has been shuttling between Cameroon and the USA since then until her passing away Sunday November 23, 2014.   

She was one of a kind.  She had a caring heart and a peaceful soul and was loved by countless. She will be truly missed but because of the beauty of her heart and spirit, her memory will endure in the hearts of many for time immemorial.