Hackney Methodist Circuit

In Loving Memory

JANET ABENA KORANG

18 January 1955 - 8 September 2005

Afterglow "I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when the day is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave behind when the day is done."

Janet was born in Akim Oda in the Eastern region of Ghana on the 18th January 1955. She was the first child of Madam Adwoa Daadom and the late Opanin Kobena Aikins.

Janet attended Oda Methodist Primary and Middle schools. After completion she went to Oda Secondary school for two years. She went to stay with her Auntie Rose Obeng-Darko in Kumasi to continue her education in dressmaking at Mansell Vocational School. Having completed the course, she realised that wasn't her dream vocation.

She joined new recruits at Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital as dispensary assistant. Janet was trained and worked in the dispensary department alongside her auntie.

She was loved dearly by all the staff at the hospital especially doctors, nurses and the patients at large. Whenever they brought their prescriptions, they would always look out for that small girl from Oda because they knew that if they didn't have enough money, Korang would still give them their presciptions and either allow them to pay later or she would pay and collect their money late. That was Janet putting others first.

Janet gave birth to her first child Doreen Anita Anaafi Attafuah on the 15th of January 1975 to the late Samuel Anaafi Attafuah in Oda.

After a while, she returned to Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi to continue her work for a further two years before her long journey to the United Kingdom in 1977 to join her aunty Comfort Obeng-Darko. Janet did a couple of works on her arrival, among them were Lesney Ivy Factory, clothes factory, as an over locker with her qualification from Mansell.

She went to Waltham Forest College for her academic pursuit to study a NVQ course in catering. She qualified as a caterer and got a job at Mandy's Restaurant till she gave birth to her second daughter Mandy Noreen Baafi on October 1985. She moved to work with the London Borough of Hackney as a cook in schools.

Janet worked in many schools in Hackney before getting her permanant kitchen at Kingsmead Primary School. She worked for 15 years until the Lord call her to the Maker. Catering was a passion of Janet. She was always cooking and baking during working hours and in her own time. She often took on cake orders for birthdays and christenings as a hobby.

Throughout her life, she never forgot her God. She was a member of Mare Street Methodist Church, a chorister, Sunday School teacher and a pastoral care leader. Her friendly and courteous manner endeared her to all. (On the right is Janet dancing during one of her final services in church on 14 August 2005.)

As fate would have it, Janet fell ill and decided to walk to Homerton Hospital late Friday night, where she was later admitted in the early hours of Saturday 3rd September 2005. She was later rushed to intensive care unit until our Father decided that Janet's work was done. Janet died peacefully on the 8th September 2005 in front of her family and friends.

Fare thee well till we meet again. Da yie, dofo fonafo wedmuma aboadze. Ahomgye pa sian mborodo na dew mapa nye wodze. Da yie, Da yie, Nyame mfa wo nsie. Amen.

Guardian Unlimited - Janet's obituary appeared in The Guardian's 'Other Lives'

In Loving Memory of those who have died... Memory