Enyie John Onuoha

It is with both profound sadness and deep gratitude that the family of Enyie John Onuoha announces his peaceful passing. A devoted son, brother, husband, uncle, father, grandfather and beloved member of every community he touched, Enyie departed this world at the age of 89, surrounded by family members.

Born in 1936 in the village of Amohuru, Imo State, Nigeria, to his father, Dulu Onuoha Anunobi and his mother, Mary Onyenwe Ikodie Onuoha; Enyie was one of the younger siblings in his family.  His siblings included: Emechete Oje Onuoha, Ogbonna Onuoha, Veronica Ufomba, Francisca Onyeoziri, Nwaorji Onuoha, Akwugo Onyejelem, Juliana Chinyere Anyanwu, Adolphus  Njoku Onuoha, Marcelina Alaribe, Rebeca Onuoha, Okpomechina Onuoha.  His father, a customary court judge, and revered Chief of the ancestral village of Amohuru, instilled in him a deep sense of dignified service, integrity and heritage. 

From a very early age, Enyie demonstrated an extraordinary aptitude for written and oral communication, driven by an insatiable interest in the world of ideas and a legendary capacity to recall facts, figures, names and events on demand. These abilities ultimately shaped his remarkable academic and professional achievements.

In his early twenties, Enyie journeyed alone, from rural, southeastern Nigeria to London, UK, to pursue post-secondary studies after completing the nursing program at St. Luke’s Hospital in the city of Anua in Akwa Ibom State - where he met fellow nursing student, Susanna Ada Njoku. The two fell deeply in love and built a bond that withstood their five year geographic seperation while Enyie was studying abroad. In 1963, after studying in the UK, Enyie emigrated to Canada, settling in Windsor, Ontario, where he continued his education in the field of social sciences at the University of Windsor.  While studying at the University of Windsor he managed to convince the Member(s) of Parliament for Essex West (The late Herbert Eser Gray) and Essex East (The late Paul Martin Sr.) to help him bring his beloved Susanna to Canada from Nigeria prior to the outbreak of the civil war. In 1965 Enyie and Susanna were re-united in Windsor where they began their phenomenal, 60 year married life together.

Enyie’s academic accomplishments were vast: In addition to earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor, he also earned a Master of Arts in history (post-war, political economy of Europe) from Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier University) and a Master of Health Administration (systemic analysis of healthcare service delivery in South America) from the University of Ottawa. Starting with an entry level position at Victoria Hospital in London Ontario, Enyie's professional journey eventually spanned several continents: program evaluator at the Comprehensive Health Planning Council of Southeastern Michigan; senior civil servant in the health ministry of the Federal Government of Nigeria; health planning consultant at King Khalid University Hospital at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia; Chair of the Employment Insurance Board of Referees (Barrie Ontario); and member of the governing Council of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. 

To all who knew him, Enyie was an unwavering intellectual—sharp, witty, and principled, with a dry humour that could cause an entire room of people to erupt in laughter. His famously elegant cursive handwriting, often scribed with his blue-ink filled, crimson-fountain pens, enriched countless letters, notes, and essays. At home in Orillia, Ontario, where he and his family lived for more than 30 years, he was an avid gardener, with a meticulous proclivity for cultivating vegetable and flower gardens as well as cherry and apple trees. He was well known for pressing fresh apple juice and preparing traditional Igbo dishes—especially his delicious, secret-recipes for caramelized, oxtail, braised, beef stew and his eye-watering, scotch bonnet sauce.

Above all, Enyie dedicated his entire life to enabling, protecting and loving his family. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Susanna Ada Onuoha; his children Nzenalu Obinelo (spouse to Izundu Obinelo), Emechete Onuoha (spouse to Lisa Lewicki), Akwanne Onuoha (spouse to Pablo Aravena), and Dike Onuoha (spouse to Rosanna Verardi); and his seven grandchildren: Adaeze, Nnaji, Iruka, Ijeoma, Chijioke, Ayanna, and Amara.

We give thanks for the privilege of experiencing Enyie's life, love and guidance. He was a husband, father, brother, grandfather, colleague, uncle, and friend whose presence shaped generations. His legacy of intellectual curiosity, service, heritage, and unwavering commitment to family will continue to live on in all who were fortunate enough to know him.

There will be a funeral mass held by the family in Enyie's honour: Saturday, December 13 @ 1pm ET at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Ottawa, Canada on 400 St. Laurent Blvd, K1K 2Z6.  All friends and family are welcome.