Family
Family
As she was fondly called by her spouse, she married the charming and altruistic young love of her life, the late Engr. Sylvanus Uzodinma Patrick Chidobem (SUPAC) on the 22nd of May 1976 and they were graciously blessed with five (5) glorious children and (8) grand children.
Children
Nneka Silvia Olubunmi Ude
Nwando Lynda Taiye Okakpu
Chinwe Kehinde Maureen Obialo
Engr. Chijioke Udemezue Idowu Chidobem
Sylvanus Ekenechukwu Alaba Chidobem
Grand Children
Obiora Ude
Chinenye Ude
Chiamaka Ude
Chimamaka Tonia Chidobem
Chukwuemelie Asher Chidobem
Chukwuebuka Michael Okakpu
Isabelle Chika Okakpu
Chamberlain Obialo Jr
She commenced her primary education at Araromi Baptist School Moloney, Lagos from 1955 – 1960, from where she proceeded to Anglican Girls Secondary School Ogidi for secondary school from 1962 – 1966. In 1972, she gained entry into the Federal Training Centre Lagos, and in 1975, her passion for languages earned her a scholarship to the well-renowned French Language School at Cavilam in Vinchy, France and became very fluent in French. Her tertiary education was completed at the University of Lagos from 1986 – 1988, where she earned Diplomas in Social Development and Administration.
Mummy Joy, or Aunty Nkechi as she will be fondly remembered by close friends and well-wishers, was smart, intelligent, and a certified linguist with a natural flair for communication. Born and raised in Lagos, she spoke Agoyi, the local Togolese language of her parents’ neighbours while growing up, had a profound appreciation for Yoruba culture, including its food, dress styles, festivities, language, and subtleties. She learnt and spoke the Yoruba language so well, even better than the natives, to the extent that all her children were given Yoruba names. To this day, many people believe she was of Yoruba descent. She was also very fluent in her mother tongue – Igbo language, as well as Nigeria’s lingua franca; English and an additional foreign language, French; being gifted in literature, she loved to write. She wrote about milestones, and things she experienced or was affected by. She did not have one particular journal; rather, she turned any writing material into a journal. This is what made her handbags so full and huge! In addition to all the prayer materials she carried around, she had millions of handwritten notes, numbers, and contacts that she was always afraid to lose.
Her passion for God and all things related to Him was palpable. Her acts of piety and charity were a norm for her, including cooking for the poor in her neighborhood, which became known wherever she lived. She enjoyed attending the Roman Catholic Holy Mass, other liturgies, and receiving the sacraments. She was always surrounded by religious items of reverence, articles, and sacramentals. She fervently propagated her faith and endeavored to convert many to Christ. She found joy and fulfillment were derived from the things she did for others. She believed her ministry was to help and pray for others and thereby gain benefits and graces that would accrue to her. She was usually besieged by prayer requests from others and prayed around the clock, frequently giving up food or sleep. She received and adopted the name Agatha which means good, honorable, by a divine word of knowledge, and had cause to rename some of her grandchildren: Tonia became Eugenia, Asher was John, and Chukwuebuka she renamed Joseph.
A-Joy-tus! As she was fondly called by her spouse, she married the charming and altruistic young love of her life, the late Engr. Sylvanus Uzodinma Patrick Chidobem (SUPAC) on the 22nd of May 1976 and they were graciously blessed with five (5) glorious children. Dr. Nneka Silvia Olubunmi Ude, Nwando Lynda Taiye Okakpu, Chinwe Kehinde Maureen Obialo, Engr. Chijioke Udemezue Idowu Chidobem and Sylvanus Ekenechukwu Alaba Chidobem and eight (8) grandchildren: Obiora Ude, Chinenye Ude, Chiamaka Ude, Chimamaka Tonia Chidobem, Chukwuemelie Asher Chidobem, Chukwuebuka Michael Okakpu, Isabelle Chika Okakpu and Chamberlain Obialo Jr. Mourning the passing of this wonderful daughter of Zion are her aged mother, Ezinne Comfort Uzoamaka Chime, as well as her brothers, Ononenyi Nnaemeka Chime, Chikodinaka Ozoemena Chime, and Forster Ejikeme Chime, and sisters, Sophia Nnenna Ene, and Nkiruka Nonyelum Ekpeluchi Chime-Nwankwo. Her sons-in-law, Chibunze Ude, Nnamdi Okakpu, and Chamberlain Obialo; daughters-in-law; Mary Chijioke Chidobem and Chinelo Alexzandra Chidobem. Her brother-law Prof. Joseph Chidobem and her sisters-in-law are Nono Grace Chiweyite-Ejike and Dr. Uzzi Ojibe, her adopted daughter; Uzoamaka Isichei (nee Obueze), so many uncles, aunties, cousins, friends, and well-wishers.
