Mrs. Bako: When Brevity Of Life Obliterates Longevity

BY SIMON REEF MUSA
As the song writer observes, “Life at best is very brief, like a falling of a leaf”, encapsulates the brevity of man’s mortality. There will always be lamentations over the death of a loved one; no matter the length of years spent on earth. Since immemorial, man has always strived and prayed for longevity. Sadly, those who live too long never made it to the hero’s hall. It is not in the length of years spent on earth that matters, but the footprints left on the sands of time to inspire others for greater achievements. The complete life is one that inspires others for greater feats and points to something greater than the deceased. A life dedicated for self is a life of waste.
When Mrs Mary Timothy Bako passed the way of all mortals, it was obvious that a lover of humanity had passed on. Some of her friends and relations had simply dismissed the story, thinking it was a dream that would soon fizzle away. But the dream became stubborn and refused to go away. Her death at the age of 44 years proved too painful a tragedy to accept. Beyond having a wonderful family, she was committed to a bright future. Late Mrs Mary was the quintessence of a brave soul that subjugated her personal happiness to that others. She had the singular trait of lightening the boredom of existence for the few that came her way. Beautiful, friendly and humanistic in disposition, she left a sobering impression on the minds of those she met.
As a post-graduate student, she believed in the dignity of labour and diversified efforts at supporting her husband in the upkeep of the family. After obtaining a degree in Economics, she did not remain idle, but deployed her creativity to an area she was passionate on. She delved into cooking and later became the Chef to the Taraba State Governor’s Residence in Abuja, among her many clients. The trained economist rejected idleness and refused to be enmeshed in mooning away in fantasy. She kept her hands busy at supporting her husband to meet the needs of the family and became the epitome of the ‘virtuous woman’ as narrated in the Holy Bible..
Throughout my interaction with her, I never had her spoke evil of anyone. She could be laconic and considered life too important to be engaged in things that were irrelevant. The late Mary enjoyed the company of friends and relations that were the fulcrum of her deployment of good deeds. She treated her workers with respect and dignity and revolted against the idea of turning workers into slaves. Few moths to her demise, one of her workers had informed her that she was disengaging as she had been offered an employment by another company. Few months after resuming at her new place, she was later to request Mrs. Bako to re-engage her after an unpleasant experience with her new employers. The request was granted. Such was the kindness of a good heart of a beautiful woman who made life a little less burdensome for people that crossed her path. In her death, those who worked with her in providing catering services wept uncontrollably. Even when she was admitted at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, she had looked forward with faith and hope of returning to the warm embrace of her loved ones. While on the hospital bed, she was worried that she would lag behind in her MA programme had sought a medical report to be forwarded to her HOD for consideration.
I met Mrs Bako sometimes in early 2018 when her family relocated to the estate I live. We subsequently got talking after some few visits. She was a darling of a sort to kids in the neighbour, including my children. During one of my visits, she had wrapped a gift and requested me to give to my son, Joseph. When the gift was unwrapped, it was a fine shirt and my son thanked her for such a precious gift. At her demise, I told Joseph of the sad news of her passage. The eight-year old boy became moody with red eyes threatening to rain tears. He disappeared into his room and returned to the living room, clothed in the shirt that was given to him by Mrs Bako whom he calls Mummy Javan. His mourning mood reminded of the popular funeral song, entitled, ‘Only remembered for what they have done.’ In church, three of my children have put prayer request for the resurrection of Mummy Javan. When told that she would rise up on resurrection day, they still insist that they want her back to continue with her good works. Less than 24 hours to the internment of her remains slated for Thursday April 18, 2019, my children have never let go of the hope that Mummy Javan shall surely rise up and be reunited with her friends, family members and children whom she loved.
For many who came across this amazing woman with a good heart for people, her demise is still an unexplained shock. In September 2018 she was as fit as a fiddle. After a fibroid operation that same month, she momentarily returned to the mill of action and commenced her catering services with vigour. Then, we saw something was a little bit amiss on her health. Mummy Javan returned to the hospital in January 2019 for a post-surgery follow-up. Throughout her hospitalization, she was surrounded by loving relatives, friends and her husband, Engr Timothy Bako, who stood by his wife as she battled for her life. In the battle to save her, nothing was left to chance.
As people journey to Zonkwa in Zangon Kataf of Kaduna State today, Thursday April 18, 2019, to pay their last respects to a wonderful woman whose second name was ‘Love,’ it must be the sole pride of family members to be instrumental to the birth of an amazing woman who showed true friendship to all who came across her. The many lives she touched in her brief earthly life obliterates any form of longevity that is devoid of the inspirational life.