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Jeanne Kayirangwa
Born in Burundi
42 years
298795
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Alexis Iyamulemye

Jeanne,

 

Where does one begin with memories. I recently was in Kenya and had a chance to visit many of the places we shared memorable experiences - the church on Valley Road, Ngong Hills, Naivasha etc I was also recently in Rwanda and with Bella was able to laugh at many of the experiences we shared at Aunt Joy's and my my mother's house (Aunt Jemima).

 

Having spent such a short time with us you left indelible marks in each of our lives. To many you were a best friend, soul mate, sister amongst other things. To me, as your Cousin, you were family and I dare say at different times all of the aforementioned. I will remember with fondness shared experiences as a child with you, Bella and her siblings in Nairobi; visits with Ruth in the US and endless discussions/arguements with you and Nilufar about everything under the sun. Perhaps most importantly I will remember the special person that brought so much happiness to so many friends and family. Never forgotten, rest in peace and I can't wait to see you and catch up on lost time - much love, A.

 

Gilbert,

 

It is not many times in life that we come across truly soft spoken people that have an inner beauty that speaks volumes. Gilbert, my Cousin was one such person. I vividly remember our times together with the grandmothers in Uganda 'your wives as you affectionately called them'; the heated discussions on politics, women etc over many bottles on 'Nile Special or Bell' in Kansanga as well as times spent with other friends and family such as Ndambe.

 

I was blessed having had two special Cousins in you and Jeanne, however, I think a more appropriate label would be having a 'partner in crime'. I remain in awe at your calm, wisdom and poise - way beyond your years. Certainly where I am concerned you will never be forgotten and I just pray that you rest in peace. No doubt we will soon be together again and be able to pick up where we left off. Till then, please take care of Jeanne as you know we are both pretty 'hot blooded' and you have always had the cool temperament. Much love. A.

Betty Muganda

When I first saw the email from Lilian saying Jeanne had passed on, my only reply was "which Jeanne?". Of course, there was only one Jeanne whom I knew, but it couldn't be the same Jeanne. No! Questions raced through my mind--how? when? why? But there were no immediate answers and so I silently said a prayer to God for "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh". I prayed for peace and comfort and understanding. And I needed to get through the day and the night until the next email response from Lilian confirming my worst fears!

 

Jeanne and I first met at Kianda College, Nairobi, back in the early 80s. We met again in the US and worked together at the International Monetary Fund for several years before she decided to move back to Rwanda. Jeanne was a friend in the true and whole sense of the word. And for her, once a friend, always a friend nomatter the distance. Jeanne, like me loved giggling, and whenever she came to my office, or I went to hers, there was a whole lot of giggling going on! And we were know for that at the IMF!

 

Jeanne and I talked alot just before her return to Rwanda. For like her, I too was planning to go back to Kenya. And so, we shared our concerns, fears, excitement, apprehensions all the emotions of returning back home after so many years away. We stayed in touch by email and to date, I find it very hard to erase her email address from my address book!

 

There are some lingala songs that when I listen to I literally see Jeanne getting down! Yes, Jeanne loved dancing! The many parties I had at my place, Jeanne would always be there and there would be giggling and dancing and merry making! And I know she has not stopped dancing to all the angelic tunes streaming in Heaven! 

 

I can't believe that as I am writing this, am getting all teary! Shamelessly! For me, like many of you, it still seems so unreal!

 

Till we meet again, rest in peace, Jeanne. Rest in peace! AMEN!

MATILDA NYUNJA

MY SILENT PRAYER 

 

BY MATILDA NYUNJA

 

It was my prayer that despite the darkness of the hour Jeanne parted, God would enable us to see the stars and give us strength beyond the grave.  This is a consolation and an affirmation as a Christian that death is not a period that ends the great sentence of life, but a comma that punctuates its significance.  May we all find strength for this short life well lived and may the peace of God that passeth all understanding be our potion now and always.

 

 

My true friend,

dear to my heart,

always remembered,

sincerely missed.

Nilufar

It is almost impossible for me to express how I felt that morning, exactly one year ago (already a year) on that cold early morning when I received a phone call from Aunty Joy.  Everything I knew about life, love, friendship, sisterhood and family changed for me that very moment. And my life would never be the same after that day...

 

I have been fighting with myself this entire year trying to understand and accept what happened. I am still not convinced why... Perhaps because I was the last one to see her among her dear friends... maybe because I have the last image of Jeanne when she came to the airport to say good bye to me... I do not know...And pls forgive me if I sound selfish...I think we all were selfish when it came to our friendship with Jeanne.. she was an unbelievable friend and a soul-mate for all of us...

 

Maybe my turmoil will come to some sort of an end when I go back to Kigali, sometime next year. I have to. We all have to. I am preparing myself for this moment because I am scared to lose my mind when I would have to face the reality that I won't be able to find Jeanne in Kigali when I get there...and more than that,  I do not want to bring more pain into the family by again revealing the hurt and the love that is burning my heart since she left me, she left us...But I will find my way tro face it, inshallah...

 

I will always love you, Jeanne....always...

 

Now, dear friends and family, I also wanted for all of you to know that I arranged a couple of things in the memory of Jeanne. First, I asked a colleague here in Kabul, Afghanistan where I am currently stationed, to request a full prayer (Hatma) to be conducted by 4-5 mullas (Muslim priests) to honor Jeanne's life. They will be reciting KORAN for a few hours tomorrow all day along by taking turns; and after the ceremony they would distribute sweets, cookies and a cake for children who come from poor families and other needy. This is the Muslim tradition we all follow in this part of the world.

 

Second, I also asked my mother back in Uzbekistan, who unfortunately did not have a chance to meet Jeanne and embrace her with her love, to do her part of paying respect to Jeanne. She would prepare a special food and make a prayer for Jeanne's and Gilbert's souls. The food will be then again distributed to her close neighbors.

 

I also think that we should help Jeanne's family with some money. Let us do it, please, altogether like we did last time. Any amount would be appreciated. We should send it to Claire by Western Union. I am sending my portion tomorrow morning.

 

Nilufar

 

 

 

ELIZABETH OLOO

REFLECTIONS

 

BY ELIZABETH OLOO

 

When Jeanne passed last year, I could not find any words of comfort to offer her family and those close to her who loved her so.  Jeanne remains so clear in our memories that sometimes the pain is unbearable and words seem so inadequate to describe such a person as Jeanne, and what she brought to our lives.  Her joy, her laughter, her smile, her insatiable thirst for life.  It seems so unfair that such a bright star could be gone from our lives.  However, we must remember how Jeanne loved God, and apparently He loved her too, so He took her back.  Difficult words to utter, a difficult place to reach.  We can only pray that despite the circumstance of her passing, she still finds peace.  Knowing Jeanne, she would want us to rejoice her life, and this is what she would probably say to us:

 

 

I’m Free

 

 

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God has laid you see.

I took His hand when I heard him call

I turned my back and left it all.

 

 

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work, to play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way

I found that peace at the close of day.

 

 

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Oh yes, these things I too will miss.

 

 

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

 

 

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your hearts and peace to thee

God wanted me now; He set me free.

AFANDI (RUTH) MULAHI

DEDICATIONS TO JEANNE KAYIRANGWA

.

BY AFANDI (RUTH) MULAHI

 

Family,

 

Like many others whose paths crossed with Jeanne's will say, she was also my best childhood friend, my sister, my confidant, and in many, many ways, my source of strength and courage. How does one begin to eulogize a loving friend, a sister, a confidant, a present force (irrespective of distance and time)?  Like all those who loved her so dearly (and there is a world of us out here), there aren't appropriate words in any language to put what I feel now into words.  My prayer is that Jeanne's steadfast faith in God (who she served so well in her short life here on earth), and her unrelenting good deeds and thoughts will continue to be a strength and inspiration to all of us in our sojourn.

 

Blessings to Maman Evelyne Munyemana, our loving mother who has seen more than a fair share of pain in the years past.  Blessings to Jeanne’s brothers, Kabalisa, Tembo and Butera whom we have always thought of as our own.  Blessings to our adopted sisters Claire and Tamara.  Blessings to our lovely grandmothers who continue to be pillars of this strong family and community.  Blessings to Aunties Joy and Jemimah who we all adopted as our own (Jeanne didn’t quite give us a choice!), for remembering and embracing us all as their own.  Blessings to all those who loved her and who cherished every moment we were privileged to spend with our dear Jeanne.  It will be well.  No, it is well.

 

I could write a long passage but I hear Jeanne say? Kwani, why do you want to put us all to sleep with the long speeches, pwana!?  So I’ll sign off with a simple au’ revoir to my best friend, my sister.  Go well, Kina!  I know there are many across the river who are waiting with open arms to embrace and welcome you home.  We will look for that glowing star in the sky every day, knowing that you'll be looking down on us, caring and smiling, as always.

 

Go well Kina!  Go well, Kina!

 

Lastly, grieve not my friends, grieve not my family, for our Jeanne's been set free...

BELLA AKINYI

EULOGY OF JEANNE KAYIRANGWA

 

BY BELLA AKINYI 

 

My respects to Jeanne’s dearest friend, her Mother who has known too much pain in her lifetime, too much loss.  May Jehovah God be with you always to give you strength.  My respects to Jeanne’s remaining three brothers – Clement, Richard and Tembo.  My respects to Aunty Joy and Aunty Jemima the loss of their niece who was like a daughter.

 

Jeanne was my best friend for over 26 years.  We were young girls when we first met.  Jeanne’s command of the English language at the time was limited, but by the end of the four years, she was one of the best English students in Loretto Convent Girls School in Valley Road.  She gave me an interest to study another language, French and it is because of her that my career path has led me to where I am today.  Thanks to Jeanne.

 

How can I describe Jeanne?  No words can express someone who is full of life.  Beautiful inside and out.  Intelligent.  Jeanne’s talents in the work place were legendary even when she worked here in the US at International Monetary Fund.  They offered her a promotional position that would have paid her over thirty times her earnings in Rwanda, but she was faithful to her family and wanted to contribute to her country’s growth and did not consider money as a factor.  She was that kind of a person. 

 

Everyone who met her, remembered her.  She was a memorable person.  Coming to terms with this tragedy is inconceivable as I hoped we would grow old together and one day live in the same locality.  I hoped Jeanne would join us again in the US soon.  I got to know every one who Jeanne loved in detail, even if I had not met them, I knew them, I am sure like they all knew me.  Everywhere I went, I talked about Jeanne, at work everyone knew Jeanne even though she was in Rwanda.  She always talked about her friends too.

 

Her loss is just too great for any spoken or written words to describe.  My regrets, indescribable.  Jeanne and I knew the bible well and we would spend hours in our growing years debating different parts of the scriptures.  In the book of 1st Corinthians 15:26 it says “the last enemy death will be brought to nothing.”  Here death is described in the bible as an “enemy”.  Death is an enemy.  Anything that takes away a bright shining star like Jeanne is my enemy.

 

We shall see Jeanne or Jay Kay – in paradise that Jehovah God has promised us in the book of Revelation 21:3 & 4 “death will be no more, neither will mourning….nor pain be any more.  The former things have passed away.   In the book of John 5:28 & 29 where it says the hour is coming when all those in the tombs will here his voice and come out, and those who did good things to a resurrection of life..”  Believe me, Jeanne did good things, she was beautiful inside and out.  That is the truth. Sleep my love.  We shall see you in paradise.

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