He died in my arms
By CHRISTY ANYANWU
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
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•Folashade
Fanoiki
Photo by Sun News Publishing |
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Mrs Funke Sunday sells groceries on Lawanson Road, Itire,
Lagos. Every evening, you can’t miss her in the crowd
of traders because she looks different. Always looking radiant
as she neatly peels the pineapples, paw-paw and other fruits
on display to customers, she spoke to Daily Sun
about her husband who died in a private hospital in Lagos
last July.
At the beginning
I got married in 1993 to Mr. Nosakhire Sunday. He hailed from
Edo State while I’m a native of Osun State. I was born
in 1962 and I met my husband while I was in secondary school
here in Lagos. Then he was working with the Federal Ministry
of Works and six years later, we got married. I had my first
baby in 1995.
How it happened?
My husband died of stroke. He had this ailment about four
years ago. He gave up the ghost last year in a private hospital
here in Lagos. My husband died in my arms. I was bathing him
in the hospital not knowing that he had given up the ghost.
I called the doctor when I noticed that he had suddenly gone
cold and he told me, Madam he’s gone.
Memory of him
My late husband was a gentleman to the core. He doesn’t
talk anyhow and does not get angry easily. He was a good Christian
and didn’t joke with his children’s welfare, especially
their school fees. That is why I would make great efforts
to make sure that the children get proper education. He worked
hard and wished his children would get the best.
He took his work very seriously; I can vouch for him on anything
especially about his profession as an electrician. Anything
technical, he was good at that.
It’s not easy to be a widow. The fact that your partner
is no more is enough punishment. There’s no single day
that I don’t remember my husband. Not only because of
the family upkeep but at least his companionship. You miss
the things you discuss with each other like other couples.
Sometimes, you’ll have a burden you want to discuss
with someone and your partner is not there.
Initial shock
Whenever I’m sleeping, I just cry out of my sleep. Sometimes,
I would be screaming my husband, my husband... My children
had to inform my parents that I always screamed. It is not
easy at all to be a widow. Even this very morning I cried,
it is not easy. It was very painful to me because I loved
him. Although as husband and wife, we had our differences,
we settled very fast because he was a soft hearted person.
In-laws
They are nice people. They gave their support to the family
and they do visit us. Before I lost my husband, I’ve
been into this business of fruits. You know that fruits are
perishables and they move fast. That is why it’s been
easy to cope.
I have to feed the children with the little gain I make, send
money to them in school for their upkeep. It’s not an
easy task for only one person to take responsibilities of
four grown up children and two of them are now in higher institutions.
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