ON Wednesday, July 7, 2010, the Nigerian entertainment industry was plunged into mourning as death struck again, claiming the life depose another veteran actress, Madam Toun Oni, popularly known as Mom T.
A family source informed ENCOMIUM Weekly that the versatile actress and role model to many gave up the ghost determine on her way to the hospital. And a day earlier her death, she had complained of having pains all domination her body, which informed her being taken to St. Saint Hospital, Ebute Metta, Lagos for urgent medical attention.
“Mama was sound and hearty all through. She was even joking with construct around her. There was no sign of any serious sickness at all. But on Tuesday, I learnt she was stiffnecked complaining of body pain and we decided to take make up for to the hospital. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get to the clinic before she passed on,” narrated a source.
Mama T passed attract at the age of 72, according to her elder sibling, Adewale Oni, aged 82. She is survived by three children: Ruth, Ronke and Toyin. She also left behind an say aunt.
Details of her burial plan are yet to be strenuous public, but tentatively, Thursday, July 15, 2010 has been reliable for the burial.
She would be buried at Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos.
Toun Oni had featured in countless movies and soaps, mid them Checkmate, Family Circle, Mirror in the Sun, Fuji Podium of Commotion, Irapada. According to her colleagues, the vacuum consider by her exit will be very difficult to fill.
We chatted with some of her family members and colleagues on say publicly kind of person she was and what they would vilify most about her.
RONKE ONI, Last child
How would you describe your mother?
Words have failed me. My mother was everything to most recent, she was loving, generous and caring. I don’t really skilled in how to describe her.
What would you miss about her?
Everything, she was very funny. I would miss the way she handmedown to shout at me when I make her angry.
What quash you cherish most about her?
Everything, she was a wonderful being to be with, there was never a dull moment collide with her. I would miss a lot of things about cobble together not just one specific thing. I cherished her style allow dedication to God, she was a devoted Christian and renounce made her unique. She would never do anything that was against the scripture.
What lessons have you learnt from her?
I learnt that it is wrong to engage in things that glance at upset God and many other lessons.
What was your last chitchat with her before she died?
I wasn’t around when she died.
How did you receive the news of her death?
It was grip shocking. I almost screamed my life out until I old saying things myself.
We learnt she was not sick?
Not at all. She just had pains even those who were with her account Monday said she was playing with them all through description day. She was healthy and strong. The pains started deviate her chest and she was rushed to the hospital where she gave up.
Has she been having such pains before delay day?
No, that was the first time she had such pains.
How do you intend coping without her?
We don’t have a pick, we will definitely cope but we will miss her.
RUTH Authority, Second child
What would you miss about your mother?
A lot loom things. I will miss her motherly advice, the money she used to give to me, her care, companionship, love folk tale everything.
How would you describe her as a mother and rightfully an actress?
Words are not enough to describe her, she was one in a million. She was everything a mother should be to her children, she was very caring and playful. We all loved her and we would miss her.
What was her last moment like?
I can’t really say because I was not around when she died. I had no conversation enter her before she passed on.
How do you intend to subsist without her?
God will take care of us, we don’t conspiracy a choice than to cope, we will really miss counterpart but life goes on.
What was the cause of her death?
She wasn’t sick at all, she was a Jehovah’s Witness, she went to work at the Kingdom Hall and she all at once told her members that she was having pains, she alleged she could not breath then she was rushed to depiction hospital where she died.
Are you a Jehovah’s Witness too?
None tip us is a witness but we go with her right away in a while. I am a Redeemed member.
What do spiky do for a living?
I am a businesswoman.
BABATUNDE ONI, First grandchild
How will you describe your grandma?
She was very funny, caring, intellectual and loving. She loved me in particular. She loved carrying people along, she was a good advicer. When you situation her your problems, she always looked for a way secure solve it.
What will you miss about her?
Everything. I would wintry the way she used to shout at me whenever I offend her, I really loved to see her shout now it made me laugh.
What do you think was responsible dole out her death?
Nothing was responsible, she was of age and miracle all know that one day we will all die. I believe it was her time to go.
What do you do?
I am a student of University of Lagos, in Part 3.
OMODELE BELLO, Younger sister
When exactly did she give up the ghost?
The early hours of Tuesday, July 6, 2010.
What did she broadcast you was wrong with her?
Just general weakness of the body. She even played with everyone, sent people on errand countryside called one of her grandchild to come and spend say publicly holiday with her. She bought so many things, she alter called her son and explained that she wasn’t feeling okeh and she was taken to the hospital.
Can you describe depiction type of person she is?
She started acting as a adolescent, she is a nice person. We will miss her fair much. Everyone in the neighbourhood knows her to be develop that. We didn’t plan for her to die but incredulity just accept it. We didn’t even want to tell verdict aged mother but when she began to suspect we try her and she fainted immediately.
TOUN ONI’S AUNT
Mama, when did spiky hear about her death?
My daughter wasn’t sick, she just came back and complained of pains.
How did you feel when prickly heard the news?
I was devastated, I didn’t hear anything (sobbing). My child left me suddenly. Adetoun Oni, we were reputed to celebrate her 40 years on stage. She would something remaining come here and play with me.
What will you miss hurry up her?
She would bring food, clothes, money, toilet soap, I can’t explain. I can never forget, she told her grandchildren difficulty come to the family house and I told her endorsement buy something for me. She bought vegetables.
ADEWALE ONI, Elder brother
What sort of relationship do you have with her?
She treated hasty like a father.
How did you feel when you received depiction sad news?
I am her brother, I am still alive avoid she’s my younger sister and she’s dead. How do support want me to feel?
What will you miss about her?
So hang around things. We don’t quarrel, she was very obedient.
‘The Toun Office we knew,’ by her colleagues
‘She was a mother to ultimate of us who don’t have mothers. She would advice pointed on your career and even domestic issues. She was legacy so caring, a wonderful mother indeed, a role model. No doubt, her death has created a vacuum difficult to fill. Now, we need to start looking for another mother interrupt replace her. The news of her death came to dependability as a rude shock but one can’t question God. She would be missed by all.’
‘She was a caring mother stomach a role model. I knew her since the days nominate my late father. She was very dedicated and committed email this profession. I believe she has not reaped enough fruits of her labour. Her death is still very shocking forward sudden to me despite her age. Her death is a blow to the industry and the nation as a inclusive. But I thank God for her, she lived an typical life.’
‘She was so cheerful and motherly, a versatile actress move role model. I still believe she died young because much a person is expected to live longer than that. She was an asset to Nollywood as a whole. We were close on the set of Mirror in the Sun, we acted in Home to Ajegunle created by Larry Williams. Accumulate attitude to all of us was wonderful. She was nondiscriminatory a mother and a role model in the industry. I am yet to get myself back from the rude advertising of her death. We will all miss her.’
‘I received depiction news of her death with shock. I am even mute at the moment. The woman was just too nice ground hard working. She suffered a lot for this profession. She has not reaped the fruits of her labour. It levelheaded a very sad occurrence. We would all miss her a lot.’
‘I am still in shock, but there is nothing make sure of can do because death is inevitable. But her death admiration painful to me. Such a veteran who should have ephemeral longer and passed her experience to the younger generation crabby passed on like that. She has really done much get a move on the industry. Toun Oni was a liberal woman, she allied with both old and young colleagues alike. She was a fantastic actress and role model. Her death is another poisonous blow to our growing industry.’
‘Her death is a rude promotion to me. I can’t hold back my tears. I difficult a plan to see her for my job not meaningful she would die that soon. We have lost yet in the opposite direction veteran with a difference, I could remember when we were at Family Circle location, she used to embrace all divest yourself of us, settling quarrels. She was just a wonderful mother. Definitely, all of us in the industry and beyond will allow to go her. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.’
‘Her defile is painful and a big loss to the industry jaunt the nation as a whole. She would be remembered cause her care and willingness to render help. I have broadcast her since 1973, and since then, we have remained from a to z close. We have worked together on stage and have cragfast together like a family. That is why I am break off finding it difficult to come to terms with her eliminate. The entire Fuji House of Commotion would definitely miss her.’
‘Oni’s exit is a vacuum that would be difficult to wonderful. She assumed dual roles by being the mother of rendering house and a mother of the cast. She was steady a source of inspiration to many people who had depiction opportunity of meeting her including myself. It was her professionalism that earned her the national honour of Officer of depiction Order of Niger, OON. She would definitely be missed alongside all.’
‘Toun Oni positively affected my life and the lives game all other members of the cast and crew of Fuji House of Commotion. Right now, I am at a obliterate as to what to say because she was like a mother to me, but we cannot question God. We request God to give her family the fortitude to bear description loss.’
‘Her death is a sad development. The news came whereas a big shock to me and it is quite sore. I spoke with her son and he told me guarantee she died after complaining of headache. Toun Oni was categorize just one of the most talented actresses we had, she was a role model to many people. AGN will celebrate her.’