"Rosalie Awa Turkson a friend that was extremely peaceful and loving in life, so let us celebrate that life."

Though I am still reeling from the sudden death of my dear sister, friend, and colleague - Rosalie Awa Turkson. I was lucky enough to see and be touched by her time here with us. I left on study leave in 2008 and met Rosalie when I came back to Tunisia in 2010 and we became friends since then. We worked together, shared office space, social life and prayer life etc. It was through Rosalie we got our property when we returned to Abidjan. She was one out of many that fondly calls me “Funmi”.  She calls my husband “Chef de Division” while he calls her “Directrice”. She was still at my place mid-2022 promising to come and spend a weekend with us which she never did. I planted “Corosol” fruit in my compound which happens to be her favorite. When she came around, they were not ripe but when they got big and ripe little did, I know that I will take the ripe Corosol to her on sick bed “she said they are big and smells nice, had it been I can eat, I would have finished everything” I wept within me.

When Rosalie learnt that my husband was also hospitalized, anytime I went to visit her at the hospital the first thing she asked was “how is my division manager”. This is to tell you what a sweet, kind and caring soul Rosalie was even on her sick bed. The same way she asked after other colleagues. She was always willing to know about your welfare and render assistance when necessary. I remember sometimes when I do not have my car, Rosalie will go out of her way to drop me at home even when I want to drop at a convenient place to take a taxi. That was the kind of compassionate person she was. Even though Rosalie’s death was sudden, her impact cannot be contained in her short lifetime.

She was a friend to many, and we will all miss her dearly every day. If she was here with us today, I know she’d be smiling.

You left too soon but I am so grateful to have known her.