Late Mrs Rosaline Abioye Orimoloye (Nee Folarin Williams) was born in Itoko, Abeokuta on 18 September 1933 into the Williams family. Her father, Late Chief Judge Adebesin Folarin was an indigen of Abeokuta and her mother Madam Aurelia Taiwo Folarin hailed from Ayobo in Agege.  Many years after the death of her father, her mother married into the Abudu family of Abeokuta and became Alhaja Taiwo Abudu.

Her grandfather was the great Zachariah Archibald Williams, a prominent Pan Africanist who played a vital role in establishing close cooperation between many African countries. He was also a palm oil and coffee merchant with a solid business base in Sierra-Leone, the UK and other parts of the world, and was one of the four original African representatives on the Lagos Chamber of Commerce when it was founded in 1888. He was the editor of the Lagos Standard.

Her father graduated from law school in England and was called to the English Bar at Middle Temple alongside his close friends Adeyemo and Olayimika Alakija on 16 April 1913. He was later appointed the first legal administrator of the Western Region. Following years of practice, he rose to the position of president of the highest Court in Egbaland and was granted the Chieftaincy titles of Bobajiro (Oba‘s adviser) and Otunbaloye of Igbore. He wrote several law books, some of which are reference books in the British Library and Harvard and Yale Law Schools. He published the first ever monthly law journal in the Western region in additional to a monthly newspaper called ‘The Egba National Harper’. He was a great mentor to many, including his nephew Late Chief FRA Williams and a ‘go to’ person for most Egba elites who wanted their children to explore the legal profession. Up to his death on 04 October 1949, he held the title of the Apesin of Abeokuta. 

Mama had 5 older siblings, namely Mrs Bolajoko Majekodunmi, Mrs Titilola Akinyemi, Mr Olaolu Folarin, Mr Adebayo Folarin and Mrs Agbeke Henshaw all of blessed memory. Mama also has three younger sisters namely, Chief Mrs Ijiola Ogun, Mrs Olatokewa Giwa and Mrs Sururat Adebimpe Oyero, all whom she loved so much and shared a very close bond with until her passing.

Mama started her education at St Peters Clevers Convent School, Itesi Abeokuta under the leadership of Late Sister Peter and Sister Dunstand. There, she obtained her Grade 2 Certificate. At the Convent she developed a deep love for the Lord and considered following a religious vocation. However, life became challenging when her father fell ill and subsequently passed away on 04 October 1949. She was aged 16 at the time. Despite this, she continued her education at Nazareth Teachers Training College in Ibowon, Ijebu Ode for two years and obtained the Teachers Elementary Certificate in 1951.

Mama’s passion for caring led her to a career in nursing. She attended nursing school at PTS, Eleyele Ibadan to start her training. From there she was posted to Sacred Heart Hospital where she met her sweetheart Patrick Oluwole Orimoloye for the first time. After a period of study at Eleyele and inspired by her older sisters who had established successful careers in nursing and hat making in England, she left Nigeria to further her career in Nursing in the United Kingdom.

Shortly after she arrived in London, she was faced with a serious health challenge and after spending much time in hospital, she was discharged home for palliative care. According to her, she intensified her recitation of the rosary every day and patiently waited for the Lord to send the angels to get her. However, she made a miraculous recovery and was able to return to her studies.

She moved to Folkstone in Kent to continue her career in nursing at the Royal Victoria Hospital where she graduated with a ‘SRN’ qualification in 1962. She later obtained a further qualification in Midwifery in June 1964.

Mama worked at Lambeth Hospital London (now known as St Thomas’ Hospital) for two years and her role included teaching medical students how to deliver babies. During her time there, she won the Florence Nightingale award for best performance in a cardiac arrest competition.

She met Mr Patrick Orimoloye again in England, they fell in love and got engaged in 1960. They got married on the 3rd of November 1962 at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Peter Avenue, Willesden Green, London. Their union is blessed with six children and 17 grandchildren some of which are Engineers, Doctor, healthcare professionals and a Lawyer. Mama was very fond of her grandchildren and always had words of advice for them. Mama and her husband aka ‘my dear’ were happily married for 54 years before death did them part when her husband slept in the Lord on 15th August 2016.

Upon mama’s return to Nigeria, she secured a job at the Island Maternity Hospital Lagos as Staff Nurse and Midwife. The hospital at the time was one of the busiest maternity hospitals in Nigeria. She worked tirelessly under difficult circumstances to bring thousands of babies safely into the world.

She moved on to the role of Staff Nurse at the University of Lagos Health Centre in 1972. She rose to the position of Principal Nursing sister and retired from the University service in 1989. She subsequently returned to the United Kingdom where she worked for a few years before her final retirement in 1991. Mama encouraged and helped many of her colleagues at Unilag Health center to relocate to the UK with their families to continue their nursing career

Mama’s husband’s role as the National Secretary and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Red Cross Society at the time involved a lot of travels around the world. On the many occasions that her husband was away in Geneva, the Philippines, the UK and other parts of the world on official assignments, mama stood firm and kept the home. This includes the period of his absence to head relief operations during the Nigerian Civil war.

Mama was a good example of a virtuous woman described in proverbs 31: 10-31

‘A virtuous woman and capable wife, more precious than rubies….her husband could trust her, and she greatly enriched his life…she brought him good not harm all the days of her life…she got up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and planned the day’s work….she made sure her dealings were profitable …O Lord, reward her for all she has done and let her deeds publicly declare her praise’.

Mama loved the Lord and the Immaculate Conception with a passion. From her early years, she was a devout Catholic that took the word of God seriously. She actually had the intention of becoming a reverend sister but later realised it was not her calling. She won many souls for the Lord in her spouse vocation, probably more than she would have in a convent. She was a great advocate of the beautiful prayer of the rosary and encouraged many people to recite the rosary. The Lord showered her with many graces and her grace of patience can only be classed as ‘heavenly’. She was a channel of peace. She belonged to many Church societies at St Michael’s Catholic Church Lafiaji, Christ The King Catholic Church, Ilasamaja and at St Benjamin Catholic Church, Olowora she belonged to the following societies: St Anthony, Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Catholic Women’s Organisation. She was an active member and supported the Church in every way she could.

All who knew mama knew her as passionate about God, children and high moral standards, so it was not a surprise when she became a teacher at St Peters Clever School at Itesi Abeokuta where she taught English Language and Home Economics.

Mama was a very kind, humble, peaceful, unassuming human being whom the Lord showered with many graces. Her grace of patience was unbelievable and ‘heavenly’. She never bore a grudge and would always repay evil with good. She encouraged everyone around her to do the same. She was a channel of peace.

Mama touched so many lives both young and old, she was an inspiring soul who was always there for all who came to her with their problems. She genuinely shared in people’s joy and pain and always had those words of consolation and wise counsel for those with troubled minds. Apart from her biological children, she was a mother to so many and assisted with their education and wellbeing. She was a selfless giver who shared all she had with those in need without expecting anything in return. She was always so grateful to all who cared for her in her old age. Mama spent a lot of time visiting and caring for elderly relatives and friends and also showered them with gifts and other necessities for their wellbeing.

Though Mrs Orimoloye has been called to heaven to meet the Lord whom she loved and devoted her whole life to, the days will pass and turn into years but she will always be remembered for her unique ability to radiate love and happiness to whosoever she came into contact with. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.

ORIKI

ROSALINE ABIOYE ADUNNI

OMO TAIWO ATI ADEBESIN FOLARIN APESIN ITOKO ABEOKUTA

AYA PATRICK OLUWOLE ORIMOLOYE NI AKURE OMO OLOYEMEKUN

ABIOYE!!

IPORO LAKISA

ALARA MOKO

IJEMO MOKO

IPORO KOBI KETE

OFI GBOGBO OMORE BI AGOGO

OMO IKO LORAN KO LOYE OKO TITI

OKO WON LEJO AWIJARE

OFI OWO RA OKA FADIYE

KO MA ROUN JE

OMO IGBORAN GBOKAN

OMOLOWO IJOTUN

OLUWA IGBOREE