•How She Was Buried In LAGOS
Lagos society woman, Mrs. Victoria Olufemi Austen-Peters (née Lasebikan) was laid to rest in a glorious way has after living a fulfilled life. She was given a befitting burial in a week long event by her family who pulled many big society shots under one roof. Late Femi Austen-Peter journey to mother earth started with a service of songs on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022. This was followed by a christian wake service on Wednesday, November 30th, 2022 at The Bell Centre, Campbell, Lagos, while the funeral service took place on Friday, December 1st at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. Guests were treated to a grand reception at The Bell Centre, Lagos Island. The late Femi Austen-Peters, who died at the age of 76, was a highly revered society matriach till she passed on. Till Grandma Otto, as she is fondly called, passed on, she looked beautiful and aged gracefully. She died on 17th October, 2022 in Lagos.
She was born on June 30th, 1946 at Ibadan to late Pa Matthew Afolabe Lasebikan and late Ma Deborah Lasebikan. She attended St James Primary School, Okebola, Ibadan and Ijebu Aigbe Girls Grammar School. Thereafter, she attended Federal Training College, Lagos where she obtained her Grade 1 Certificate in Secretarial Studies. She began her professional career with the Federal Civil Service beginning from the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government at cabinet before relocating to Ibadan to start her own private business. She was married to late Brigadier Austen-Peters in 1972. Aunty Femi or Sisi Femi, as she is fondly called, many was a very hardworking, friendly and hospitable woman. She was the founder/CEO of Fapet Nig. Limited and Otto Waters. Her death was a big blow to the society milieu as many society matriachs are her friends, the likes of Hajia Abba Folawiyo, HRH Yewande Onileere, Lady E.A Aisien, Chief (Mrs.) Tinuke Abioro and many others. She was always in the company of her friends and still stepped out few weeks before she passed on, so, it was a shock to many of them, especially Lagos society woman, Hajia Abba Folawiyo who was her bosom friend of over 40 years. She was badly hit by the death of Femi Austen-Peters that at her funeral, she cried profusely. She was at the helm of affair at the burial, she stood solidly behind Austen Femi-Peters’ family before and during the burial. To show how close they are, their pictures were splashed on many pages of the tribute book, illustrating how they have been together since their youthful days, how they were involved in each other’s family and how they always go out together.
For her funeral, many of them showed up. They were at the church and they also supported the family at the reception programme. The likes of Hajia Abba Folawiyo, Princess Yewande Onileere, Barr. Shade Balogun, Ranti Johnson, wife of former Senate President, Toyin Saraki, Chief (Mrs) Atinuke Abioro, Daisy Danjuma and many others.
In Sisi Abba’s tribute, she told the story how she was able to spent her last moments with Sisi Femi when she attended her 80th birthday. She wrote, “Femi Austen-Peters and I shared a most cherished friendship that lasted over four decades. Since the 70s in Ibadan and later moving on to Lagos, our friendship remained as strong as ever. Femi was more than a friend to me; she was indeed a sister. Throughout the period of our friendship, we never had a single quarrel, she loved me so much, and I loved her equally as much. She was always there for me and I dare say that we did lots and lots of things together. I remember when Segun, my son was getting married, she was very involved, she stood by my side throughout the wedding. I am convinced that she loved Segun like her own child, her own son.
Femi was always very happy, always very cheerful, always laughing and very kind to a fault. Femi was the epitome of what it means to be a friend indeed, when you are happy, she is happy, when you are sad, she is sad. When anybody is going through tough times, she was ever ready to face it with you. She was such a nice lady, if she could, she would give out her eyes to you as gift. Her love was indeed very sacrificial, one that is very rare to come across these days. Days leading up to my birthday, she told me she had not been feeling well for some time, but she said this birthday, she will come and dance and dance and dance, and she did come and she danced, and danced, and danced. I am glad I was able to celebrate with her this one last time. I spoke to her, few days before I went to Ilorin. I didn’t know I would not come back to meet her. In her usual loving and caring nature, she said, ‘safe journey oh, have a nice trip. Don’t do too much wahala, because I know you with your wahala, don’t go and do wahala there’ then we laughed, I didn’t know that would be the last time we would laugh together. I am grateful to God that I had this last opportunity to laugh with Femi. I have so much more to say about Femi Austen-Peters, but pain and grief would not allow me, I will miss her, very very much. Even though she is gone, she is remembered forever for the good heart she had. May her soul rest in peace and I pray that her siblings that are left behind are continually kept by God”.
Lady Aisien also wrote a tribute, “Oh my dear beloved auntie Femi, the memory of my last visit to you, your sisterly advice, the sweet hospitality, can never be erased from my heart, sweet auntie, I wish your soul to forever rest in peace in company of the Angels and Saints. My love for you forever. To me, your heart was as beautiful as your looks.
Princess Yewande Onileere also penned a shocking tribute to her late friend. She wrote, “words fail me, your death broke me, I am extremely shattered . It was a rude shock. Since I have known you, I saw a gentle, easy-going, God-fearing, kind, plain minded and loving woman. Femi was not only my friend, she was my sister too. Femi was genuinely a wonderful soul. It is hard to accept the fact that she is gone. A woman of peace, always unassuming and energetic, she lived a life of peace. Femi, may your sweet and gentle soul rest in perfect peace”.
Others who also spoke well of her were Ibadan society woman, Chief (Mrs) Tolu Harry-Akande, Hon. Mrs Bola Shakioye Ogunsanya, Simi Awoliyi, Alexander Babatunde Panox, her step children, cousins, school mates, Ijebu Igbo Girls Grammar School Old Students, Yeye Ayodele Oreagba, Mrs Aderemi Folake Awe, Femi Odutola Eboda, Bolanle Austen Peters, Col. Kemi Peters and Mrs Tolani Peters, Gilbert Ayodele Onagoruwa, and others.
Late Femi Austen-Peters is survived by her sister, step sons, step daughter, nieces, nephews and in-laws.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
(08111811219)
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