EARLY LIFE
Eunice Atieno Okech was born in the Village of Bondo in Sakwa Bondo, Siaya county. She was born to Jane Omung’I and Sospeter Omung’i. Jane was a home maker while Sospeter was a teacher. Together they raised 5 children, two daughters and three sons.
Eunice was such a vibrant young girl and the apple of her father’s eyes. She attended Nyamira Primary school and later Nyamira High school. During her high school years, Eunice was a great athlete specialized in sprinting thus 100-meter races. She won her school several medals. She was also very naughty and funny. She enjoyed the company of her best friend.
Family Life
After High School at the age of 18, Eunice moved to Nakuru for a vocational training and later for work. This is where and when she met Richards Okech, the love of her life who became her husband soon after in 1977.
Eunice and Richard moved to Kakamega in the early 80s where they started a family and raised four amazing children named Lilly, Dennis, Corazon and Brian from first born to last born in that order.
Kakamega became home for Eunice Okech until her death, even though she had a rural home in Uyoma where she was laid to rest by her husbands side.
Career
Eunice Okech Worked as an office clerk in the Ministry of health, Kakamega for many years and later as a public Health officer while Richard was an accountant first with the ministry of Agriculture in Nairobi and later a snr. Accountant in the Ministry of Land and settlement in Bungoma.
Eunice was retrenched from public service in the year 2000 immediately after the death of her husband. This made her to pursue business. She ventured into several businesses to make ends meet.
Life in the USA
-
In the year 2016 mama Eunice relocated to the USA where she reunited with her daughters Lilly and Cory. While in the USA, mama Eunice established her life in Pennsylvania where she lived and worked.
-
She worked as a caregiver with Home Helpers Home Care. She loved this job as this was something she was very passionate about, having worked with vulnerable persons before.
-
One of the highlights of Eunice’s life in the USA was when she became naturalized. This was a dream come true not only for Eunice but for the entire family. When we look back to where we came from and seeing how far God had brought us, this was really a blessing.
Life with Cancer
Eunice was diagnosed with cancer in June of 2023. By this time, she had received several misdiagnoses for pain and discomfort in her stomach and throat.
By the time she got a cancer diagnosis, it was already stage 4B. This meant that she went straight to palliative care since there was no medical intervention that could heal her, but she could get care to improve her quality of life and keep her comfortable
After several rounds of chemo, the doctors introduced radiation and at some point, to help prolong her life.
They had already made it clear that the cancer was pretty much spread everywhere and couldn’t be treated.
Memorial service in Pennsylvania on Saturday the 8th of February 2025.
In January of 2025, Eunice received yet another blow to her health. She was found to have blood clots in her lungs. This devastated all of us because it put mama Eunice at a very difficult position.
We had two options, to take a chance with blood thinners and risk internal bleeding which was already an issue or let nature take its course.
Mama Eunice's memorial service in New Jersey in on the 9th of February 2025.
At that point, mama Eunice made the decision to let nature take it's course and she was moved to hospice care.
After two weeks on hospice care, mama Eunice passed on very early Sunday morning at 1:45AM, on the 26th of January 2025.
How we remember Mama Eunice
-
With four children depending on her, she did what only the strongest of mothers could do—she gathered every ounce of courage and fought for us. She shielded us from the harshness of life, ensuring we never lacked. She refused to let grief define our future. She worked tirelessly to make sure we stayed in school, that we had food on the table, that we felt safe and loved, even when she carried her own sorrow in silence.
She never let us see how tired she was. She never let us feel like we were a burden. She was our protector, our provider, our warrior.
-
Through sheer resilience, determination, and an unbreakable spirit, she put us all through college and beyond. She sacrificed, she struggled, but she never, ever gave up. Not once.
Beyond her strength, Eunice was also an incredibly kind and loving person. She had a way of making everyone feel special, seen, and valued. She never judged anyone—she truly believed in the saying “to each their own.” She let people be who they were, never forcing anyone into a mold, always offering unconditional love and acceptance.
-
She was also a woman of deep faith. Our mother loved God with all her heart. She was born again, and her prayers carried us through the darkest of times. Whenever we faced difficulties, we always knew who to call—Mom. She would pray for us, intercede on our behalf, and remind us that no matter how tough life got, God was always in control. She was our prayer warrior, our spiritual guide, and the one who always reminded us to trust in the Lord.
But she wasn’t just strong and prayerful—she was also full of life. She loved people, she loved laughter, and she loved making others feel good about themselves. She had a way of lifting spirits with just a few words. She enjoyed the outdoors, she danced like no one was watching, she appreciated the finer things in life, and she always found joy in the little moments. She taught us to embrace every single day as if it were our last, to cherish the present, and to live without regrets.
-
Her love extended far beyond just her children. If there was one thing our mother adored more than anything, it was her grandchildren. They were the light of her life, and she cherished each one of them deeply. And they, in turn, adored her right back.
For us, our mother was everything. She was our safe space, confidant, rock, support system, cheerleader, friend, first love, and, of course, our mother. Losing her feels like losing a piece of myself. There is simply no home without Mom in it.
-
Saying we miss her feels like the greatest understatement. The world feels emptier without her warmth, her laughter, her unwavering love. But even as we grieve, we also celebrate her life. She left behind a legacy of strength, resilience, love, and faith. She showed us what it meant to fight, to never give up, to love fiercely, and to trust in God.
Mom, we love you beyond words. We miss you in ways we cannot even begin to express. But we find comfort in knowing that you are at peace, reunited with Dad, free from pain, and watching over us from above.
Mama’s Last Dance: A Birthday to Remember
On March 23, 2023, we gathered to celebrate our mother’s 64th birthday. But this wasn’t just any birthday—it was a miracle in itself. By then, she had already lived six months beyond what the doctors had predicted. It was as if time had decided to be kind, giving us moments we never thought we’d have.
We planned a small, intimate surprise party with close family and friends. Deep down, we knew this might be her last birthday, but we held onto hope, praying for more time. And oh, what a night it was.Mama was at her strongest since her diagnosis. She was radiant—full of life, laughter, and joy. She danced with us, moving with a lightness that made us forget, even if just for a moment, the battle she was fighting. She laughed like she had no worries, and when she spoke about her journey with cancer, it wasn’t with sadness but with hope. She reminded us that life is meant to be lived, no matter how long or short it may be.That night, she was simply Mama—our rock, our joy, our everything. We watched her soak in every moment, embracing the love that surrounded her.Looking back, we now know that it truly was her last dance. And though our hearts ache with the weight of that reality, we are grateful—grateful that we celebrated her while we still could, grateful that we had that one last night of laughter, music, and love.Grief is heavy, but gratitude softens its edges. And so, even in our sorrow, we thank God for the extra time, for the chance to see her dance one more time, and for the love that remains long after the music stops.
Until we meet again, may you rest in eternal peace.
Condolences
© 2025. Eunice Okech Memoir. All Rights Reserved.