my father in law passed away may 12th. we've been scrambling around and trying to prepare for charles' trip to nigeria to bury his daddy. needless to say, we have tried to manage the stress of work, school, baby, house, church and everything else- we have limped through it all! please keep us in your prayers. i wrote a long time ago about the customs involved with burial in charles' region of nigeria. if you're interested here is the post.
here are some ways you can pray for us during this time:
: pray for protection for charles as he travels.
: pray that charles would experience the presence and companionship of God as he is away.
: ask the Lord to give charles extra grace and comfort through this time of managing tasks- but grieving as well.
: pray for charles' ministry to his family in this time of need.
: pray for constance and i as he is gone.
: pray for his decompression time upon return home.
here are some great pictures of my father in law patrick and also, his obituary and my tribute to him (which will be read at his burial- along with each of the other children's tributes).
“How well he spent his life…”
Patrick Chukuemeka Okonkwo April 22 1944- May 12, 2008
Lak Oguieda Patrick Chukemeka Okonkwo was born April 22 1944 as the first son to Lak Oguieda Okonkwo and Mrs. Patrick Nwawunne Okonkwo Obogborn. At the time of his birth, his family lived in Akure Ondo State and was eventually given the affectionate nickname Bambidele by the deji of Akure.
Patrick enlisted in 1967 and served nobly on behalf of the Biafrian constituency in the Nigerian Civil War. After the war’s end, he met and fell in love with Christiana Udekwue Okonkwo whom he married on January 10th, 1969. Patrick and Christina have six children (three sons, three daughters).
On May 1988 Patrick married his second wife, Henrietta Okonkwo with whom he had four sons. Patrick was a loving son, brother, uncle, husband, father and grandfather until his passing.
Patrick received his primary education at Sobe and his secondary education in Benin City in Edo State. During his professional life, he traveled to London to study as a secretary and eventually returned to practice his trade in Nigeria. He was employed at R.T. Brisco prior to the Civil War. Afterwards, he returned to Lagos to start his own business- Patmon. Later he established Amamites Agro Tech and Construction with subsidiaries of Amanmites Aluminum Construction and Anamites Agro Tech. His entrepreneurial spirit and success in the marketplace led to his selection by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce to be the first business person chosen to attend an international seminar in Sotuh Korea and again, in London in 1979.
In 1987, he founded the Oshun Landlord Association after relocating to Abule Oshun. His later days were spent establishing a school within his compound, PEC. Patrick acted as director at the school and along with his second wife who continues to serve as head mistress.
Patrick was a moderately social man that kept to himself most of the time. He was known as a principled man who stood tall for his people. His term as the Chairman of his Community and age grade in Lagos was long standing. He was a gentleman to the core. Born into a Christian home, Patrick was a Catholic and at an early age was an alter boy. Although not a church goer for some of his life, before his death, he gave his life to Jesus.
Today, we gather to say farwell to a great man. Patrick fought the good fight of faith in this side of life and now rests in the arms of Heaven where we will see him again.
Dad, we love you, but the Lord loves you most. Be at peace in the arms of God. We will miss you but we are so grateful that you were our father, husband and friend. "
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and here is my tribute (each child writes a tribute that is read):
“My daddy, Patrick Chukwuemka Okonkwo welcomed me to his family with an open heart. I knew that he was a great man prior to meeting him because I watched his eldest son, Obugo to whom I am married; glow with pride when he spoke of him. I am grateful for daddy for many things. He loved his family deeply and earned the respect of people regardless of their creed, religion or ethnicity. . I am so happy that I had the chance to meet him and spend time together and introduce him to Ebelechukwu, his first granddaughter. . I will miss him very much. My only comfort is to know that his body has been restored completely and he is no longer in pain- his heavenly body and spirit rests with King Jesus. .He leaves a legacy behind in the kind of children he bore into the world and I consider myself blessed to be an Okonkwo. “
