The remains of late Madam Olayoonu Abigail Ayodele, the mother-in-law to the General Manager of Daily Times newspaper, Mr. Bonaventure Melah, will be buried this Saturday in her hometown, Iresi, Boluwaduro local government area of Osun State.
Madam Olayoonu Abigail Ayodele, aged 100 years, who was popularly called Moomi by her children and Iya Bolorundoru in the community, was born in 1919 to Pa Idowu and Mama Aina Omo at Araro’s compound.
She was the fifth born among many siblings and spent her youthful years in the family’s farming business at Oko eri, Iresi before she got married to late Pa John Ayodele in Aworo Esile’s compound, Iresi.
Thereafter, Mama Abigail followed her husband to Oke Awo to continue the farming business, from where they moved to Bolorunduro Afolabi, with farming as their main business.
Bountifully blessed by God and nature, Mama Abigail and her husband, late Ayodele experienced prosperity in the farming business and were able to build many houses in Ife town, Bolorunduro and Iresi, among other places while bearing and raising many children.
After the death of her husband, Pa John Ayodele in 1990, Mama Abigail went back to Iresi to continue her life, this time surrounded by her many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Three years ago, at the age of 97, Mama reluctantly agreed to move to Osogbo to stay with her children.
Before then, her children had over the years pleaded with her to relocate to the Osun State capital city for close monitoring and care. She had always insisted to stay closer to the memories of her late husband.
A virtuous woman and devout wife, Mama Abigail was very hard-working and exceptionally enterprising which helped her to guide her children through the part of honour and discipline even after the death of her husband 30 years ago. A lover of children and family, Mama Abigail spent all her earthly life as a Christian, and was among the earliest missioners in First Baptist Church Bolorunduro where she was a church chorister, and later in First Baptist Church Iresi.
Madam Abigail was a committed member of First Baptist Church both in Bolorundoro and Iresi and served as a member of WMS Church society, earning for herself the popular name, Iya Bolorunduro.
She is survived by her six children who are Mrs. Deborah Olaleye, Mrs. Mary Akinyoola, Mr. Nathaniel Ayodele, Mr. Moses Ayodele, the Medical Director of All Saints Medical Diagnostic Centre, Ankpa, Mrs.
Rebecca Olujoke Melah and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Modupe Ola; as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren
