Funeral Rites for a Ghanaian Woman Victim of Cancer in New York

By Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr. Atumpan News Agency

The death of Ms. Stella Asieduaa, 42, was reported on Feb. 5, 2009 at the Maimonides Medical Center and Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. The cause of death was given as metastasized – or advanced stage – of breast cancer by Ms. Comfort Korang, a sister of the deceased.

Also known as Ms. Stella Covington, and affectionately and informally called “Baby,” Stella Asieduaa was born at Akyem-Asiakwa, in the Eastern Region of Ghana, to Ms. Fati Ahmed, an export-and-import merchant, and Mr. Godfried Okyere Gyami (a.k.a. Wofa Yaw Gyami), deceased, a transport owner, on Aug. 15, 1966. She attended the Salvation Army Primary School and the Local Authority (LA) Middle School at Akyem-Asiakwa between 1972 and 1982. Thereafter, Ms. Asieduaa gained admission into the Asamankese Secondary School (Asasco), also in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Upon graduation, she briefly worked as a trader and immigrated to the United States in 1995 where, until her passing, Ms. Asieduaa worked in the homecare and hospitality industry, with a local branch of the Marriott Hotel chain serving as her last business address.

Several of her close friends and associates described the deceased as personable and caring, with “a big heart and a great sense of humor.” One of them, Ms. Philomena Quainoo, described the deceased as an intimate friend and confidante whom she preferred to regard more as “an elder sister.” Ms. Quainoo poignantly added, “If I was in dire straits, or in need of anything, Sister Baby would show up with her little son’s father, Jeff, at my doorstep, ready to help.”

Another close associate, next-door neighbor and former fellow Pentecostal churchgoer, Ms. Barbara Nartey, a textile business owner who has known Ms. Asieduaa for more than 10 years, called her friend’s death a great personal loss. “I really miss Baby. To be frank with you, I still can’t believe that my dear friend is no longer with us.”

As of press time, funeral arrangements were as follows: The mortal remains of Ms. Stella Asieduaa (a.k.a. Ms. Stella Covington) will be laid in state for public viewing at the Frank R. Bell Funeral Home, located at 536 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, New York (Corner of Classon Ave.) on Friday, Feb. 27 between 4-7p.m. It will be followed by a church service at the Frank R. Bell Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m., and then to the Nazareth High School, also in Brooklyn, for the Final Funeral Rites, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The mortal remains of Ms. Stella Asieduaa will be laid to rest Saturday, Feb. 28 in New Jersey.

Other than her mother, Ms. Fati Ahmed, Ms. Stella Asieduaa is survived by a son, Jamal Malik, 7, and five siblings, namely, Ms. Salomey Obeyaa, of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ghana; Mr. Richmond Okyere, an educator, Akyem-Begoro, Ghana; Mr. William Adjei, Accra-Ghana; Ms. Comfort Anokwakye, Accra-Ghana; and Ms. Comfort Korang, North Carolina, USA.

For further information, contact the Frank R. Bell Funeral Home at 718-399-2500. ###