This is a very sad moment, we are heartbroken, we are pained, someone very dear to us has been called. But in our grief, we remain grateful to God for the time we had with Engie. Engie was a true definition of what a sister is, her kind-heartedness, her diligence, her openness, her loyalty and the sacrifices she continuously made… we could not have asked for another. Engie was a very dependable and committed person. Firm in establishing her stand while accommodating the views of others. The passion she exhibited while discussing matters that were dear to her leaves everyone wanting to have her in their corner and we are glad we had her as one of us. We had each other practically from the very beginning. From the holidays in Vom to the ones in Nsukka , Enugu and Nawfia. It was fun throughout, with ‘loads of gist’ being unwrapped till very late into the night and then started again early the next morning to the amazement of our parents. Then you would have Engie passionately expressing her views with so much excitement, dramatization and humor.
Engie was a true example of one who learnt well at the feet of her mother. Her openness and generosity knew no bounds. Her cooking and baking skills have saved the day for some of us for whom it wasn’t our specialty. Her organisational skills were always on point. She could never understand some of our delays in getting ready for events or tasks (aga aga ministry as we humorously called it). She found it hard to understand how we could deliberate on things and reach a conclusion on what to do and then start delaying in its execution. She could multitask and followed up on everyone to ensure assigned tasks were carried out to the fine details. She cared so much! She was amongst those we lovingly called ‘the monitoring spirits’ because she would call to find out what time you would be traveling, call to make sure you set out early for the airport so as not to miss your flight, call to find out if you have arrived and so on.
To her family, she was a great and adequate mother. She gave love, acceptance, emotional and spiritual stability not just to her kids but to the children of her friends and any child that crossed her path. My children, Esi and Ofu can attest to that. Engie’s home was a second home to them. A place where they were always well taken care of, chastised when necessary while being showered with love.
We remain thankful for her faith in God and the relationship she had with Christ, as it gave her the needed strength and saw her to the end. Her strength and positive attitude throughout the sickness gave strength to some of us when we couldn’t muster any. I recall our discussion just after the diagnosis. I was so scared, broke into tears and all I could say was NOT AGAIN! NOT OUR GENERATION! Engie told me that we will be okay, that she needed our strength at that moment to see her through the treatment, she believed that together as a family we will go the long haul. And she did go the long haul, with her strength not wavering and with a positive attitude, she fought hard to the very last moment. We are left with the words of the Psalmist –‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints’. I know that Engie will not want us to grieve like people with no hope, but to continuously encourage ourselves with this verse and also use this moment to reflect on our lives, to make right our ways and to stand in righteousness with Christ, knowing that one day, someday, we will be called too. I don’t know how life will be without Engie, how the future will unfold. But one thing I do know, one thing we as Engie’s family know, is that Kelechi, Kamie, Ezindu and Chinekwu will not walk this path alone, we will be there to hold your hands and walk into the future as Engie continues to rest in the LORD. Love you Chynwus