Love for the Ogbomo Family

When a child loses his dad who was his best friend, when a wife loses her partner who was her confidant, and when a family loses their hero and provider, where do they turn?

Dear family, friends, and compassionate members of our parish and community,

God has called us to help our friend…

Suddenly and unexpectedly, Osagie Ogbomo, a beloved member of our St. Mary’s school and parish has lost his life.

Osagie, 50, was the husband of our dear friend Kate, and father of his children; Osy (13, 8th grade), Iwinosa (10, 5th grade) and Irobosa, (5, kindergarten).

Osagie had spent a week in the hospital with a 105 degree fever. Doctors could not find the cause of the fever, and with tests coming back negative all week, he was released to go home on Saturday the 14th. He awoke Sunday morning and prepared breakfast for the kids as Kate was getting ready to head off to work. After a day of flag football for Iwinosa, and some time at home with Osy and Irobosa, very suddenly, Osagie passed in the family’s home.

In addition to the death of Osagie, Kate, a seasoned pharmacist with Walgreens learned just two weeks ago that her store in Chicago was shutting down. She had been fighting a horrendous commute (60-min each way) and unfortunately, Walgreens only gave her an option to go to another store that is even further away within her current district.

The family is heartbroken and devastated with the unfathomable and unfortunate turn of events in their lives. Little Irobosa and Osagie were best friends. Irobosa is such an energetic and hilarious little guy who will talk your ear off about his dad and where his daddy went. But in his quiet moments, Kate mentioned that he breaks down and cries and can’t understand why his daddy is gone.

Those who knew Osagie knew he was a kind, gentle, and helpful man. But most of all, Osagie was a wonderful father. He would spend so much quality time with his kids attending all of their activities, helping with homework, and playing games, such as Monopoly, with them.

Kate was so lucky to have him and admired him so much. He was always eager to BBQ, make lunches, grocery shop, and take care of the family finances. Osagie was also a brilliant scientist and worked for Blistex where he was developing new testing methods for their products. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Chemistry in Africa, and an MBA degree here in the USA. He was very well respected within his company and industry.

We are a group of St. Mary Immaculate moms who love and care deeply for the Ogbomo family and we are striving to help ease their pain, suffering and transition to life without their husband and dad.

As a working mom, when your child is born, all you want to do is hold them, comfort them, be with them, protect them, and most of all never leave their side.

Our goal is to allow Kate to refrain from having to go back to work for the next 12 months, hopefully longer. We want her to feel relief and comfort in knowing she has the funds to support her and the kids while not receiving Osagie’s and her salary.

Please help us give relief to Kate,

-Relief that Kate doesn’t have to continue with an hour commute to and from work every day to provide for her family.

-Relief that she has the ability to spend mornings not rushing off to work and she can spend time with her children making lunches and talking about their upcoming day.

-Relief that she doesn’t have to worry about after school care or rides for her kids. We want the freedom for her to be able to pick her kids up from school every day and have them run into her loving arms when they walk out the door.

-Relief that she doesn’t have the stress of monthly bills that can create worry for her.

-Relief from the exhaustion, stress, and responsibility of raising 3 kids on her own while working.

-Relief that even though her family isn’t close by, her friends and family are here to support her and keep her focus on grieving, healing, forgiving and finding joy again.

-And finally, relief that she can be available 100% of the time to snuggle, care for and love her children during this heart wrenching time.

We are setting a goal to raise $100,000.00 by December 31st 2023, and this money will be used for the following:

1. Funeral Expenses

2. Mortgage Payments

3. Home, health and car insurance

4. St. Mary's School Tuition

5. Gas

6. Groceries

7. Children's activities and clothing

8. Property taxes

9. Light remodel/refresh of her home given this is where Osagie passed.

10. A family getaway for Kate and the kids to smile, bond and celebrate Osagie together.

11. Estate planning fees

12. Christmas and birthday presents.

13. Utility Bills

We know our goal of $100,000 is aggressive, but we also know the generosity and love of our community at St. Mary's has always been exceptional.

To help us meet our goal, we graciously ask that you please share this request with 20 of your closest friends and family. Personal touch seems to work the best while raising funds, so please, give your friends a call and tell them personally how much their donation would mean to this family.

Finally, and most importantly, we need your prayers. We ask that you take time each day to stop and ask God to help the Ogbomo family through their upcoming journey of life without Osagie. We pray they receive the support and comfort through God's will to gently guide them to find peace.

Thank you again so much for taking time out of your busy day to read and hopefully contribute to our fundraiser for the Ogbomos. We can’t wait to give Kate a life totally free of worries to focus on and enjoy her 3 beautiful gifts from God. To enjoy a sunrise, to go for a walk and pray, or to just exhale and exist without the daily pressures of life is our goal!

God Bless,

Kristin, Annette, Elizabeth, Gina and Heidi

P.S. If you would like to read more about the family, please take a look below!!!

If you haven't met the Ogbomos, please take a moment to meet and read about them, they are truly remarkable and they need our compassion and support to help them through this difficult time.

To know this family is to know happiness, love, laughter, kindness, relentless effort and triumphing achievement.

Kate is a working mom to her three beautiful children. She came here from Africa in the late 1990’s to make a new life for herself. She travelled to Illinois with her two sisters and together they bought a home to share.

Not long after arriving here, Kate was introduced to Osagie. He too was from Africa, and they immediately hit it off. They were married in 2009 and began to start their family.

Since moving to Chicago, Kate’s sister passed away, and her other sister moved to Las Vegas. She is here alone with no family close by to help with her children.

Developing her kids' faith, cooking them dinner, providing for them, helping them with homework, driving them to activities, teaching them to drive, getting them through college, and being there to just love and hold them are all just some of the things Kate now has to do on her own.

Osy, Kate’s oldest daughter is 13 years old and in 8th grade at SMI. Osy is an inspiration to all she meets and many of her classmates firmly believe she will someday be the president of the United States. She is such a joy to be around! Always smiling and positive, she is a great friend to all of her peers. She earns straight A’s and participates in volleyball, basketball, track and field, choir, band, student council, and the school musical. She has the voice of an angel and the heart of saint.

Iwinosa is 10 years old and is in 5th grade. He is so excited to play football and basketball this year for SMI. His teachers say he is always so happy and helpful and he is a pleasure to have in their classes. He also earns straight A’s and is well on his way to following in the footsteps of Kate and Osagie.

And Irobosa, the most adorable little boy you could know. He loves soccer and his father was his best friend. He came into the world on a cold snowy December night, literally in the back seat of a car on Highway 55. The family was on the way to the hospital and surprisingly, Irobosa, was coming too quickly. Kate had to give birth to this little angel while Osagie pulled to the side of the highway. Osy, Iwinosa and their grandma were all in the car ready to help deliver Irobosa into the world.

This family has dreamed huge and has worked so hard to raise such a beautiful family. They have been through more than one family should ever have to endure.