Odette A. Mayele

Funeral Eulogy for Maman Odette MAYELE ALEPE
Maman Odette Mayele Alepe, known as Odette or Ya Odette to her family and MAO to her closest friends, was a loyal, kind-hearted, and endearing woman.
Born in Kikwit to Pierre Mayele and Charlotte Mbongo Mpasi, Odette came from a large family. She was the second child among her father's many children and held the same position among six siblings from her mother. She married Pierre (Petelo) Diluaka, and together they had three children: Christian, Bob, and Tina. She also lovingly embraced her stepchildren, Marcel, Pitchou, Rita, and Ndinia. Odette was a devoted grandmother to five grandchildren: Artia, Ardis, Blessing, Christine, Gradie, and Ashtin, as well as a cherished step-grandchild, Samuel.
After completing her primary education in Kikwit, Maman Odette moved to Kinshasa to continue her studies. She attended Sainte-Marie Goretti School, pursued teaching studies at the Kisantu boarding school, and later studied at Kolofuma. However, her deep passion for healthcare led her to nursing school at Kintambo Hospital, followed by the Kimbanguist Institute of Nursing Sciences.
Odette began a distinguished career at the Ngaliema Clinic in Kinshasa, one of the leading medical institutions at the time. Working in the internal medicine department, she was dedicated to improving her patients' quality of life, always leaving a lasting impact through her professionalism and compassionate care.
Known affectionately as "Maman Loboko," cooking was another of her great passions. She took joy in preparing meals for her family and loved ones, and her love for cooking became almost a form of devotion. Odette also had a deep love for music and dancing. She actively participated in religious services at West Side Church in Springfield.
Her passion for travel took her to places like Angola, Canada, and the United States, though sadly, her dream of visiting France remained unfulfilled. Preceded in death by her parents, sisters Francine and Lubembo, and brothers Gérard, Adelberg, and Mabila, Odette leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and warmth that touched everyone who knew her. It is a privilege to share the cherished memories of Maman Odette.
She will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on in our hearts forever.