Scores gathered at the weekend at Adebayo-Idiayunre, Ibadan, to celebrate the life and times of Ile Aro Otan-Ayegbaju, Osun State-born Pa Olusegun Stephen Fawole, a former Church Council Chairman of Our Lady of Fatimah, Alomaja in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.
At a funeral service, the priests admonished the congregation to emulate the departed soul by worshipping God, saying that the deceased did his part while on earth.
The Parish Priest of St. Rita Catholic Church, Sango-Eleyele Road, Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Felix Etaphemi, said that the deceased devoted his life to the service of God.
Going memory lane, the priest urged congregation to emulate the deceased who despite setbacks struggled to educate his children.
He recalled the death of Fawole’s wife, Mrs. Felicia Adebola Fawole, in 1989 at a tender age of 42 years and how the husband trained all the children left behind by the deceased wife, educating them and providing for their needs.
The priest who said he had a solid 33 years relationship with the deceased noted that in spite of the earthly challenges, Fawole was able to contribute his quota to the church in particular and the world in general.
He said the late Fawole took care of his children’ upkeep and education despite the socio-economic challenges which he combined with spiritual activities in the Church.
Fr. Etaphemi who further described the late Fawole as an embodiment of talents said the deceased was also, in his active years in the Church, a volunteer Catechist.
During his life time, the deceased worked at various levels with Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
Pa Fawole is survived by children, grandchildren and relations including Mr. Opeyemi Fawole, Mr. Tunde Fawole, Dr. Adeola Adesina, Mrs. Felicia Popoola and Mr. Dele Oguntayo.
