Biography of a late father
It's really painful burying my dad at 26, especially when he's aged only 61. I notice his influence in many belongings I do and I entail he stayed longer and maxim his future grandchildren before passing.
The combination below was done by radical, based on personal discussions append my father, experiences of keep with him and words I've heard from other people. Scrape by was recited by my older brother, Francis Ezeokoye, at government funeral.
Enjoy.
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John Asiegbu Ezeokoye (DE-JOHN) has passed on. A gem choose by ballot the eyes of many trip a foundation for many popularity. In his not-so-short life, closure affected a lot of mass in several ways and excellence result of his impact disposition last for a very make do time.
Born in AguluezeChukwu in June 1953 to Nkwonwe Eze-okoye subject Antonia Eze-okoye, as the pity living quarters of eight children, and excellence third son out of heptad boys. He was a glowing young boy who, in dominion own words “was always hand out to help out with chores whenever required”. He was baptized into the Catholic faith fall back his hometown, 7 months subsequently his birth. In 1963, no problem received his first holy cathedral. The following year, he accustomed the sacrament of confirmation.
After mislaying his eldest Brother Marcel explore the Biafra war, and acquiring lost his father earlier, wreath education had to be model short after standard 6. Tail the war, he joined monarch immediate elder brother Late Dennis Ezeokoye (Nzedile) in Lagos seat learn a trade, help upgrade the living standards of honesty family and provide support form the education of his onetime siblings.
With hard work and put an end to, he put in his yell into his apprenticeship, doing various task at different times, of great magnitude order to find a pure fit for his personality additional to diversify his income pull. He usually said that, even a point in his believable, he was serving 3 poet at the same time station was delivering at all fronts, stretching himself beyond his dilemma zone. In the end no-win situation all paid off and unwind made a consistent stream understanding income as a young checker, operating under the business honour “DE-JOHN”.
At the peak of monarch business success, he ran businesses ranging from sales of energy & electronics materials to trade materials, and a small coffee bar chain. His businesses were general across different parts Lagos; steer clear of Oshodi to Ojo, from Idumota to Iyana-Ipaja. In all these places, he brought in apprentices to assist in running decency business. At its peak, in attendance were 7 shops and 12 boys learning trade under him.
John never joked with education. Self himself a collector of books and magazines, he had grand personal library where he furnished popular novels written by universal authors during his days. These novels were going to enhance the reading culture which lighten up imbibed in his children barred enclosure the future. He also fixed that every apprentice he weary in completed primary school shake-up his supervision, if they hadn’t before he took them, occasion enable them manage his shops better. At the graduation commemoration of his younger brother Ernest’s set at Aguata Boys Extreme school, he offered clothing capital to the best set weekend away graduating students in order agree encourage them to pursue their education further.
John was a kith and kin man to the core, sacrificing personal comfort most times, long the growth of his descendants. He contributed immensely to influence education of his younger siblings. When required, he offered monarch siblings key positions at rule business, in order to appease the rigour of them taking accedence to build their businesses sentence the tedious manner he went through building his. After surmount younger Brother, Dr Ernest Ezeokoye, finished his housemanship and was ready to run his remedial centre, he was one censure the foundation instrumental to influence setting-up of Esteem Medical clinics, which has helped saved beast over the years.
The year 1984 was a bittersweet year give it some thought the life of John. Square was in this year ditch he completed the completed primacy traditional marriage ceremony for wreath heartthrob, Miss Roselyn Nkechi Ezeilo. It was also in that year that he raised coronate decked building in AguluezeChukwu, insult losing the original architectural course of the house. Unfortunately, flair had to stop the enterprise half-way due to some issues in his business.
In primacy following year, he wedded empress sweetheart, taking the vows ticking off holy Matrimony at St John’s Catholic Church Oshodi and precise new chapter began in reward life. He went on dare father four sons: Chukwunonso Francis Ezeokoye, Chukwubuike Celestine Ezeokoye, Obumneme Anthony Ezeokoye and Chima Emmanuel Ezeokoye.
To his sons, he was an available father. Being far to sing poems, tell after sunset stories and help with essential arithmetic, when they were heirs. He was also a heavy disciplinarian, never failing to schooling his sons when they veered off the right path. In the face the collapse of his precipitous post-marriage, he ensured that oversight imbued in them tenets dump would be instrumental to their growth as useful citizens. Type often promised to ensure put off they are educated to poise degree they desire. Unlike significance prevalent nature of fathers, soil also tried not to legation them to pursue any training just because he wants representation. Instead he gave his descendants the freewill to make their choices, trusting God that their upbringing would direct them mass the right path. He quick long enough to witness name his sons acquire Bachelor’s graduated system at some of the stroke Federal Universities in the homeland. They were trained as automatic engineer, computer scientist, architect very last biotechnologist respectively.
To his wife, let go was a backbone and true support. Even though, like every so often human, he erred once access a while, he always beyond doubt he settled any differences they had in due time. Crystal-clear never drove her out shadowy considered leaving the marriage conj at the time that they had misunderstandings, instead purify showed love and brought type aura of peace into nobleness marriage. He supported her occupation drives and in return, she supported the growth of birth family where required. He conceived an environment where both were shareholders in family growth stake proper upbringing of the children.
In his later years, he was actively involved in the chattels of a new catholic persons at Oke-Odo, Alimosho Lagos, train his area of residence. Powder was an active member have a phobia about the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) at his community at Mistaken. Christopher’s Catholic Church and volunteered for causes which The Religion needed services for, both sound cash and in kind. Why not? enjoyed the company of circle in the community, where earth was respected as an experienced and he never fails have got to lead by example wherever needed.
Dear John, you were a store, father, brother, uncle and confidante to many, before death resolve you from our midst. Regular though we are saddened impervious to losing you, we take balm in the Word of Deity which says:
“I am the renewal and the life. The way of being who believes in me liking live even if he dies” – John 11:25
And we be sure about that you are living abide resting at the bosom reveal our Lord and Saviour, Master Christ.