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TUMO6566@aol.com London, UK

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MEMORIES OF A RARE GEM (EULOGY)

upe was to me, all that a woman should be, hence, I dedicated my life to love her. She was my friend, wife, mother of my two kids, my publicist and admirer. Sometimes, she lent me money and to be honest about it, I don't remember paying the loans back. Just a couple of days before passing away, I'd dashed to the hospice, only to realise that I didn't take my wallet with me.

Late Modupe Bolanle Oyedoyin

On asking if she had any money on her, she asked how much I wanted to borrow and after a few thoughts, I settled for a loan of £40. She called one of the nurses and the loan was instantly disbursed - that was Dupe for you.

She was a rare gem, and without any exaggeration, she was an extraordinary lover and five-star believer.

My journey with her started somewhere along Moore road, in Yaba, Lagos, in October 1991, when, after five years of casual friendship, I made a proposal to her to be the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh. Some twenty odd hours later, the young woman gave me her heart and we both knew it was a relationship that must have been sealed from above.

Three years later, she returned to the country of her birth, and it took another four years before she came back to Lagos to say, "Till death do us part," as we exchanged vows in holy matrimony in November 1998. I thought this radiant baby who promised to be there for me and the kids would keep her word, but unknown to Busayo, Tomisin and me, the angels had started to beckon on her to come and rest in the Lord's bosom at 1.30am on Saturday, May 12, when I got a call from the hospice, informing me that her breathing had changed.

As I continued with my sleep at home, another call came at around 2.30am that her breathing was still as discussed an hour earlier. A little over an hour later, my sleep was interrupted when the phone rang again and a male nurse told me: "we suspect that anything may happen anytime from now."

"Okay, I'm coming straightaway," I told him. For all you care, my wife recognises a good offer when she sees one and with the benefit of hindsight, Dupe must have seen glimpses of heaven and heard tunes like:

Across the bridge there's no more sorrow
Across the bridge there's no more pain
The sun will shine across the river
And you'll never be unhappy again, between those three calls.

Having lived with the pain of breast cancer for the past couple of years, I wouldn't blame her for being lured her away from this world at 3:55am, before I made it to the hospice some 20 minutes later. Needless to say, when we meet again on the other side, you'll have to explain why you didn't wait for me to get to the hospice before departing.

Although she was a devoted lover and caring mother, I really didn't like going shopping with her, because, like almost every woman, she will always justify why we should add to our shopping list and spend some extra bucks. Like every man, it wasn't always my pleasure to part with money, but her usual line was, "I'm the one who knows what we need in the house."

Apart from being a cool headed and highly driven woman, she was someone who could part with her eyes to meet the need of others. Strangely though, she wasn't the nagging type, or the suspicious wife.

Dupe was a sincere friend, a trusted lover, a watchful mother and someone you would crave to be in your team. She could hardly do anyone any wrong, nor kept grudges.

My wife was a dogged fighter and it can be said of her, she has fought a good fight, she has finished her course, but above all, Modupe kept the faith, thus earning herself a crown of righteousness which the Lord Jesus promised all those who love His appearing.

She was a gem,
More than diamond,
And she shone,
Like the morning star,
She was a darling full of life
With her heart so full of love
She will shine in her father's house.

And until that bright and resurrection morning when we will all meet at the feet of Jesus, on behalf of the kids and all those you left behind and inspired, goodbye for now, sweetheart.

Your loving friend and husband, Olatunde.

N:B Eulogy was read at the Farewell service held at Kingsway International Christian Centre, 1 Darnley Road, London. E9 6QH, on Friday, May 25th, 2007