2021-09-13 15:19:49 wrote:

Daddy, you neva die yet! Yes, daddy, you neva die yet, and you will never die because for God’s faithful, life is changed, and not ended. God whom you loved and served very well while here with us repaid your love by calling you home peacefully on August 5, 2021, the eve of the feast of Transfiguration. Instead of remaining here on earth to reflect on the transfiguration, you were made to experience it first-hand. And that’s why you can never die yet or later. Your favourite and common response any time I asked you “daddy, how are you?” was to tell me “I neva die yet” and from there, we would begin a lengthy discussion on life and its many gifts and challenges. You were always grateful to God for your life, despite the challenges. And I in return, will thank God for giving you good health, energy and sound memory. You remembered past events as if they happened minutes ago, and you would correctly recount over and over again, without changes. You were good at telling stories about life, as a guide for the present and future. I thank you for your wisdom, prayers, words of encouragement and concern for me; you would always ask after my wellbeing, work and family. You appreciated family life and always advised me to do same. I thank you daddy for you were truly a father, friend and life coach. Now you are at home with your Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ, our mother Mary, St Anthony of Padua, your best friend who always interceded for you here, other saints, the angels and your only Rose. I thank God for the gift of your life and pray God to grant us, those you left to continue the journey, the grace of a happy long life, final perseverance and happy death. When our battle of life is over, may we meet you again in the heavenly Kingdom where there is no pain, tears or sorrow. Daddy, there is no goodbye, all I will say is “E ma sun olufe ki e si ma sinmi l’aya Olugbala yin. E sun re, Baba rere! Chris Mbanewe