The woman I knew as Nene

My grand mum was someone whom everybody knew as Nene. She had this warm, gentle and welcoming smile that she always had on her face for everyone who came to see her.Now as to why it took me three weeks to write this tribute about a woman who was gentle, friendly, down-to-earth I can’t say […]

My grand mum was someone whom everybody knew as Nene. She had this warm, gentle and welcoming smile that she always had on her face for everyone who came to see her.
Now as to why it took me three weeks to write this tribute about a woman who was gentle, friendly, down-to-earth I can’t say but I know that Nene as she is fondly called by everyone around her even her own children, played a great role in my life especially in the area of education. She was someone who believed in good and quality education because as a trained teacher (she obtained her Teacher’s certificate grade II in the late 1970’s), she believed that education was important for the progress of any society. She was a teacher with the Gaskiya highland nursery school and Fatima Primary school both in Jos.
After she retired, she started a tutorial lesson in her home for people of all ages and even had married women among her students. Her greatest desire was to see them excel in their educational pursuits.
Although she had been sick for some time, her illness took a different dimension when she was rushed to the hospital and admitted on  November 6th, 2013. She was on admission for two weeks and was eventually discharged on November 23rd 2013. While she was on admission, I kept mentioning her in my prayers. I also ensured that I spoke to her. When I did, I could hear it in her voice that she was really weak but I assured her that she would be fine.
I travelled to Jos to see her, the same day she was discharged. When I went to visit the following day at home, she was really excited to see me. She tried speaking to me but her voice was faint. It was very obvious that it was as a result of her illness. I then told her to make sure she took her drugs but she should also try to eat too because I knew she didn’t like to eat even when she was still hale and hearty. She promised me she would eat.
I spent the remaining part of the day with her, and left.  I still went back to see her the following day because I was to go back to my station the next day (Tuesday). I had no idea that would be the last time I would see her. I left Jos on Tuesday glad that Nene was better. I always got in touch in touch with her when I got back to my station.
Then on Saturday night around 8:00pm, she was rushed back to the hospital and the weather was really cold. After running a couple of tests on her, the doctor then asked that she should be taken back home. But she wasn’t because there was a little delay in the results of the tests. Eventually she was readmitted into the hospital. My mum and uncle stayed up throughout the night keeping vigil over her. My mum then left the hospital to go and prepare something for them to eat while my grand dad and uncle were with her. Little did my mum know that would be the last time she would ever see her mother-in-law again. Sadly at 6:00 pm, she started gasping for breath until she breathed her last by 06:17pm December 1st 2013 which incidentally happened to be the day she turned 70. She died in my grand dad’s and uncle’s presence. I can only imagine how they felt at that moment. The shock, the mood at that moment.  My dad who happens to be the first son was on his way to Jos to see her when it happened.
As for me, I didn’t know about it until later in the night that same day. The news was broken through my aunty because my parents didn’t know how to inform me. I was in a state of shock when I was told. Then when it sunk in, I shed tears because I didn’t know that my journey to Jos the previous week would be the last time I would see her.
She was eventually laid to rest a week later on December 7th, 2013. It was a very emotional day especially when the funeral talk was given. That was also the day I knew men cry too because before that day, I had never seen my dad cry so I was surprised when I saw my dad’s eyes, I knew he was deeply touched because he was the 1st son and he was really close to her than any of his brothers. I knew he would really miss her. Then the casket had to be opened for people to bid their final goodbyes to her. There she lay, with that gentleness on her face. That was a very emotional moment for me. I couldn’t bear it so I had to walk out. It was then it dawned on me that I would never see her again.
Nene always had a smile for everyone she met. She always made an impact in the lives of people she met. She was God-fearing too. She left behind her aged husband to whom she was married to for fifty-five years, three sons all of whom are married and also ten grand children.
We will miss you Nene but we know you are resting and you are in a better place, in God’s memory.
Eseohe wrote from Abuja          [email protected]