Aunty gwen we loved you we needed you and we will always care for you in jesus name.

                                        EULOGY FOR AN ANGEL, A GREAT FRIEND AND SISTER                                        
                                                        GWENDOLINE SAMSON IHEKONA

Gwendy,  my sister, my Best friend for Life (BFF), and my confidante, I never thought I'd be Eulogizing you but here I am and so it is. You lived an amazing life full of adventure, love, peace, Prayer and harmony  and when your job was done, typical of you, you took a french leave, a mischievious one too without even a warning. The terrible phone call came with screams from sis Jay and then sis Doro. At first, I thought I was just hearing things thinking they had lost their minds,  but no, my Gwendy was gone. It struck me like a thunder  lightening. Those words still echo like a tornado in my ears even now.  The memories of all the mango and Guava trees we climbed, the fishing escapades we embarked on, the famous lessons from sister Doro, our life experiences we shared as adults, the prayers and songs you taught me and your infectious smile just raced through me and I know for sure, that they will carry me through. You were a great friend. The kind of friend that stands by you when you need someone to be there.

                I recall growing up together, we used to spend some holidays with Gwen’s grand mother in Muyuka or my Grand ma in Bafut. Once when we went to Grandma in Bafut, she asked us (Gwen, my cousin and I) to go fetch wáter in her calabashes down the stream. Upon return, I fell, dropped my calabash and broke it. I began to cry because I thought Grandma would yell at me. Gwen comes to my aid and says “ Claire, no worry, ah go just tell Big mami say nah me ah broke am. You know how Big mami like me noh.” Ofcourse, that’s just the kind of person Gwen was but I could not let her take my blame.

I also recall another incidence in Our Lady of Lourdes college. Lourdes students (all girls) and Sacred Heart college students ( all boys) usually exchanged visits on house and school feast days. A visit that we always started the preparations during the holidays by making sure we got our Parents to  buy us the dresses and shoes for that “August event”. When it was our turn to visit Sacred Heart college, one of our friends burnt her pretty dress when ironing it and was devastated. Gwen once again said “ No worry, I will go get you one of my dresses to wear. So It is ok.” Gwen immediately brought her this beautiful outfit which our friend wore and looked radiant in. That again was just Gwen.

Gwen’s family always came first. Bob was her sweetheart. Every statement was my sweetheart this and my sweetheart that. Her lovely children were her world. Gwen would shop till she dropped for the kids.

She loved and cherished Papa John and Mama Mary Samson and so we came up with this song; “All day  all night Mary and Johnny, down by the seaside simply stand, we, Little children love Mary and Johnny down by the seaside they simply stand.” Till this day, I wonder what the original lyrics of that song  was, but each time we saw Mama and Papa, we began singing their song.

Gwen loved her sibblings so much that she would run to them  every time any of them just itched. She was in London for 6 months to nurse one of them, then ran to the US for 2 months earlier this year to nurse two of them. You name it, Gwen did it kindly and prayerfully.

Above all, Gwen lived as a true woman of God. She prayed tirelessly and entrusted her every move and thought to the Lord. I remember asking her once, Gwendy, since when did you become so prayerful? And her response to me was “ This is why I will always be your grand soeur.  You see Claire, Life happens and forces you to wake up from your sleep and get much closer to God. Once you bring him that close,  surrender every thing to him,  knowing that he is totally in charge, then you have an inner peace that only he can give to you and nothing would matter.” At that, I said, once again you are right.

As the last of the family, Gwen could get away with anything.  I recall our Primary school lunch was a plan of it’s own. While my Mom packed me lunch, Gwen’s Dad gave her money (50 frcs) instead. We actually preferred the money so we would go to school and any kid who brought lunch money but preferred dodo and egg or pancake etc would give us 50 francs and take my packed lunch. Then we will add it to Gwen’s 50 frcs and go to the dinning shed for lunch. Eventually, the famous Achu bécame available as a school lunch item and Gwen loved Achu so much.  But our combined 100 frcs could not get us our usual rice & stew or beans & puff puff and then, Achu . We needed more money. So one fine morning when Papa Samson  slid Gwen’s 50 frcs underneath his  room door as he routinely did with all the other Samson kids, Gwen slid hers right back to him. Papa wondered why but was smart enough to figure out that, she wanted more money. So he added 25frs and slid it underneath. But Gwen slid it back to him again. Papa then added 50 frcs to make a total of 100frcs and slid it. Now Gwen was happy and took her 100frcs lunch money. From that day forward, Gwen’s lunch money bécame 100frcs. Ofcourse, we were happy campers since our complete lunch which included Achu, rice & stew or puff puff & beans would now be covered after we sold my packed lunch.

                What is it that we will remember when we think about Gwen?  I think everyone who knows her will agree with me on this one; her smile, her compossure, her humility, her strong christian faith and her sense of humor. For me, it was her unconditional love as a sister-friend.  Gwen could make you laugh so hard that you will end up crying. So who could forget her?

Gwen’s death was sudden. I simply couldn’t believe what I heard. She was too young I thought, but as it slowly sank in, I realized that Gwen indeed lived her life wonderfully. She was well loved, had done so many things on earth and I’m sure she’ll do much more in Heaven. I will forever be grateful to have known Gwen.

Gwen is in heaven now serving as another one of our guardian Angels. So let’s not grief her death but take the time to celebrate her life. Do not forget Gwen but remember how she touched your life, how she made you laugh and be thankful to have had a chance to know a beautiful soul called Gwendoline Samson Ihekona.

So, uncle Bob, and our dear Amaka, Pearly and  Lohloh; Papa and Mama Samson, Bro Mike, Sis Jay, Sis Doro, Boutique, Nomen, Pam and Caro, it is well with Gwen’s soul and it is well with you.

Gwen will forever be missed but we are consoled that she is in her Father’s Kingdom and in the right time, we’ll meet her again and she’ll make us laugh yet in tears again. Adieu my sister-friend as you rest in our Lord’s bosom. I miss you so much Gwendy that it bites. But I ask you to please stay very close  to me, because I will always need you and call on you to intercede for me.

Your BFF,    Claire
7/21/2012

Dear sister qwen  indeed dead is a bad reaper always plucking the unripe fruits . oh dead where is your gain . oh well certianlly you have no gain because those who die in christ shall live again through the power of recsurrection. so even though we mourn our sister who has been snached untimely by your cold hands we have the assurance that she is alive in christ and we shall surely see her again so dead you have lost the battle .
 sis gwen aduieu and may you rest in perfect peace in the bossoms of your loving father lord and savour of all mankind
we mourn because we miss you but we known you have gone to a better place.
julia taboh mbanya for sis caroline taboh

What can we say Gwen?  The Almighty God is All Knowing.  Your life on earth may have been short but where you are is everlasting.  How so wonderful!! Sleep well dear and we'll see you in the morning.  Loads and loads of love from your Uyo Family.