Calistus Onyedika Anyichie's Funeral Cost

Please help us return the deceased body of Calistus Onyedika Anyichie to his birthparents Gerald and Regina (Chinwa) Anyichie and his siblings Jane, Charles and Christopher Anyichie in Nigeria. Donations will be used to assist with funeral home expenses, repatriation and transportation of Calistus to his hometown to Nigeria, and burial expenses.


August 20, 1999 - July 14, 2019
Calistus Onyedika Anyichie was born in Nnobi, Anambra State, Nigeria, tragically and suddenly passed away in a drowning accident at Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca, NY. He was a tall, strong, 6'9" rising sophomore at Binghampton University, where he was studying Political Science. He was the eldest son born to Gerald and Regina (Chinwa) Anyichie. He attended secondary school at the College of the Immaculate Conception in Enugu, Nigeria. As a big dreamer and scholar, he wanted to study abroad in the United States and worked diligently to make his dream come true.  On April 14, 2015, he left those near and dear to him in order to find his place as a young man at the tender age of fourteen. He resided in Short Hills, New Jersey with Virginia Roriston and her 6 other children.

It was there that he first made a lasting impression on all those with whom he came in contact.  Calistus was team captain and team ambassador for St. Mary of the Assumption High School.  Calistus was recognized by NJSIAA as a "scholar athlete" and received many well-deserved college scholarships.

As a diligent and conscientious scholar, he took education very serious and graduated with a 4.1 GPA.  His hard work and dedication in the classroom and on and off the basketball court him in a position to receive numerous Division I scholarships offers.  He ultimately chose to attend Binghamton University, where “found his new home.”   Calistus successfully completed his freshman year and was spending the summer at Binghamton working out and taking summer classes when he passed away this past Sunday. 

Calistus wanted to be a diplomat and humanitarian and will always be remembered as a young man with a big smile and an even bigger heart. 

Relatives and friends are invited to the Funeral Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Ave, Short Hills, New Jersey on Friday, July 19th at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held at church from 2:00 to 4:00 pm followed by a celebration of life and reflections starting at 4:00 PM.  Light refreshments will be served following the celebration of life and reflections which will precede the mass at 7:00. Burial proceedings will take place in Nigeria. For more information or to send condolences please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com.

All donations will be gladly and graciously accepted here. For those unable to electronically send funds through this forum, monetary donations in lieu of flowers will be gladly accepted at:
PO Box 503, 30 Chatham Road, Short Hills, New Jersey  07078.
Please make checks payable to Virginia Roriston.

My name is Virginia Roriston and I have been Calistus Anyichie's legal guardian since his arrival in the United States of America on April 15, 2015.  Calistus's legal address is my home in Short Hills.  

The funds will be spent on funeral expenses incurred and itemized by The Jacob Holle Funeral home in Maplewood, New Jersey, and other related funeral expenses.  I plan to open a separate bank account at Bank of America in the name of Virginia Roriston GoFundMe account where I will deposit the funds and write checks for all incurred expenses.  A full accounting will be done by the accounting firm of Kohlhagen and Neiman & Company located at 297 South Washington Avenue #2, Bergenfield, New Jersey  07621.