When Ugo broke the sad news of their Dad's passing to me my heart dropped literally. I knew he had been sick for but I didn't expect this so soon.
My memory of Ben goes way back in the mid eighties when I arrived in Canada and met his wife Viki. Viki and I became very close friends. After Onyekaozulu my late husband passed away Viki and Ben adopted me and my children as their extended family members. Almost all our Thankgiving and Christmas were spent at Ben and Viki's.
Ben never minded the extra noise in the house nor that the basement was always in chaos depending on what the children were playing with on that day.
Even after I moved to Edmonton, whenever Viki had any of her numerous house parties, I would come down to help. One thing I remember is that no matter how busy the kitchen and the entire household was during the preparation for the party, Ben was always as calm and cool as a cucumber while Viki was the exact opposite!
Ben adopted a healthy lifestyle and went organic long before "organic" became a thing. He always curious about nutritional contents of foods. Which had more fiber, more plant protein etc.
I remember at Viki's wake as my knees collapsed beneath me at her viewing, it was Ben who helped me off the floor while comforting me.
I personally think that something in Ben died the day Viki died because for whatever reason he was never the same after.
To Ugo, Chudi and Emeka, please accept our most sincere and heart felt sympathy. Thank you for loving and caring for your Dad to the very end. Your Mom will be so proud. Always remember you now have two extra angels watching over you and your families.
May his soul Rest In Peace.
Auntie Nnenne Ikejiani
