GRACE WANGU KAMAU

EARLY YEARS

Grace “Wangu wa Makeri” was a daughter to the late Paul Kamau Ndegwa and the late Dorcas Wanjiru Kimani who passed away during Grace's birth. After her mother's demise, Graces's aunty the late Mary Wairimu Kimani (Manyoro) took over the responsibilities of raising Grace. Grace was stepsister to the late Jane Wanjiru, the late Mary Wambui, the late Ann Gathoni, Isaac Ndegwa, Amos Nyoro, Sammy Njoroge and John Githanga. She was raised in a strong Christian family where she was taught the value of integrity, obedience, hard work, humility, generosity, compassion, and empathy for all. Grace left home at an early age and found a welcoming Jewish family (The King family) who employed her as a domestic help. The King family loved Grace due to her sheer hard work, dedication and willingness to learn new things. When the King family left Kenya, they helped Grace to get work as an ungraded nurse at the Nakuru Provincial General Hospital (PGH). It is during her time at the PGH where her legacy really took off.

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THE LEGACY

Grace's ambition, relentless work ethic, resilience and tenacity paid off as she quickly worked her way up from an ungraded nurse to a graded nurse. She had excellent people skills and relationships with all walks of life which created her diverse web of friendship circles. Grace was an incredible networker who leveraged the many opportunities she came across for the benefit of her immediate family. There was no project that was too big for her huge vision. She mobilized the limited resources available to her and invested in various projects, for the benefit of her family and the less privileged whom she also regularly assisted. Grace had a heart of gold. She was merciful, empathetic, generous, helpful, humble and an incredible carer for all, especially the underprivileged. Grace loved people greatly, took on the financial burdens of many including the responsibility for school fees and the other needs of the less privileged in the family and some friends. Grace understood the importance of hard work and she worked tirelessly to provide for her family. Her mindset and skills were equal to none. She was a kind and selfless woman of God. Grace's whole life and work revolved around the life of her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother who always put the needs of others before her own.  Those who knew Grace well, also knew of her children and grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally. She prayed for them fervently. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her for her big heart, wisdom, leadership, toughness, and guidance throughout life. Grace leaves a huge gap in the family, and she will be deeply missed by her: Children (7), Grandchildren (19), Great Grandchildren (14).

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YESTER YEARS

 After successfully raising her seven children to adulthood, Grace left her employment on early retirement due to persistent knee issues caused by a car accident earlier in her life, to establish her own business in the Nakuru matatu industry. She led with a huge vision, her usual tenacity, and resilience giving the opportunity for her children to make a living and feed their families. Grace would soon get restless after folding the matatu business and she then ventured to the USA in early 2000’s. She settled in Seattle, Washington and worked as a carer for the elderly, a nanny and also as a knife hand on fishing boats in the freezing temperatures in Alaska where it could get up to minus - 60.00°C. She sacrificed herself and her happiness for the sake of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Notwithstanding a calmer life in her final years, Grace battled with arthritis and diabetes, and she did not stop thinking of her children even for one second. God finally rested Grace while in her bed on 6th November 2023. We are all better off for having known her. Grace will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the memories of those who knew and loved her.

In God's Hands she rests, In our memories and our hearts she remains forever!

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1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

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Let us all take courage and comfort knowing that we will see again our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend according to the Lord’s promise. Amen