Epitome of Womanhood
After losing my mum at an early age, I have been extremely fortunate and seemingly privileged to have had Grandma as my mother.
As her daughter-in-law, the kids and I are always eager to be in her presence, she has the personality of a complete woman worthy of emulation, she is fierce in loving, kind in heart, and strong in the practice of her faith. She is the mother I never had, and I always wanted.
The painful news of her passing away in the early hours of that Sunday morning of her birthday has left me devastated and in extreme grief. My family struggles with the reality of her absence daily.
Grandma is always very lovely, and there was never a dull moment with her, She always wanted to solve issues, she was truly a problem-solver, always trying to solve people’s problems, and I can’t place the source of her energy because she hardly eats, hardly sleeps, but was very active and strong, physically present and involved in all the same places I also found myself to be.
Like the biblical shepherd, she always protected her sheep, gathering them from far and wide, and calling them home.
With clarity, I remember whenever I called her, her soft and gentle voice would ask first; May…is there any problem? that’s the 1st thing she would say, asking more questions about my well-being, the kids’ growth, and my overall care, anxious to solve people’s problems; to her, discussing her own problems was so typically unheard of.
She goes shopping and buys things for me and the family, sends money to me unannounced, buying the kids beautiful clothes, and toys. She doesn’t share the nature of a typical Nigerian mother-in-law, she is very loving, caring, supporting, and beautifully multi-talented.
Grandma never waits for me to call her, and she always responds anytime I call her, but whenever she calls, she would never complain a single word! She has an enormous heart, cooking and feeding people she doesn’t even know in her neighborhood with her great family’s delightful recipes, everyone around her always had something to eat and drink. Whenever money is sent to her to cater for her expenses and needs; she looks for others to uplift intentionally and gives them the money. Grandma dislikes to see anybody suffer or lack anything as long as there is something she can do about it, more often than not, she would borrow from people who had and give to people who didn’t have! She would always go the extra mile for them. She prays a lot and is a prayer

warrior, having a special dedication and love to her Lord and Saviour, as well as to the Marian movement of our Virgin Mother Mary, she prays for everyone around her, offering decades of the Holy Rosary to people she has contacts with, family, friends and loved ones; most times forgets to pray for even herself, grandma taught me that there is always a good reward serving God.
I could go on endlessly sharing the good memories of the beautiful relationship we had, the happy moments, and her comforting smiles, she never gets angry for any reason.
Grandma, I love you so much and you will always be in my heart. I pray for you and live by the lessons you taught.
I miss you!!!
Love May Chidobem