UNCLE P FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT
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Early in the morning on Sunday 6th December 2020, a child of God and His angel, named Pius Wando Fusi, responded to God’s call after fighting lung cancer for over a year. Pius was husband to Ma Helen Neh Fusi, Father to Michelle, Nicole, Brian, Liam and Lena; Brother to Gabriel, Martin, Mary, Regina and Richard; Uncle to: Jude, Azi, Patrick, Emmanuel, Mah, Meme Fuh, Marilyn, Nasy, Mokom, Kilian, Akong, Junior, Afa, Emmanu Fusi, Wujung, Quinta, Carlson, Junior Fuh, Nwi Chambi, Brian and a very long list of other nephews and nieces. He was also a proud grandfather to Noelle and Julian, and brother-in-law, best friend, mentor, role model, big brother, guide, godfather, patron, coach, etc. to so many others in the Houston community, around the State of Texas and the world beyond.
COVID-19 prevented the regular influx of guests to the Fusi household while allowing Ma Helen and her mom, Mama Euphemia Anuatinde, to focus their 100+% attention to providing Pa Fusi the best patient care possible on this side of the great divide. Ma Helen’s professional expertise as a nurse, coupled with her love and dedication ensured her husband received such care that it was sometimes hard to tell that Pius was as sick as he truly was. His upbeat personality, conversations about the future, his belief in miracles, ensured Pius never let on about how much he struggled. It is easy to conclude that his love for his “Babe, Sweetheart, Hun, Ma Fusi” and the children, kept him fighting the cancer harder and longer than his enfeebled body would allow. Relentlessly by his side in the ICU and until he breathed his last that Sunday morning, Helen gave her husband love and TLC beyond normal. How she managed to provide regular detailed updates to the family as she watched her husband seesaw between Hope and hopelessness is truly stoic.
To Ma Helen and Mama Euphemia, the family is eternally grateful. Many thanks to Mafor Regina Fundoh who relocated from Charlotte to be her brother’s spiritual anchor; to Uncle P’s favorite niece and Ma Helen’s BFF, Mrs. Marilyn Obenson whose 6th sense brought her straight from Charlotte to the ICU early Saturday morning, ensuring Ma Helen was not alone during Pa Fusi’s transition; Auntie Jackie Atang (prayer leader), Dr. Eric and Vivian Tanifum, Eugene and Lizzy Suh, and all close family members and friends who swung into action ensuring Uncle P’s last days were love-filled.
EARLY DAYS: INCULCATION OF UMBUNTU VALUES
Pius Wando Fusi was born on Friday 10th June 1966 to Pa NGWA FUSI Joseph and Mami Manka Martha NGWA of SONAC Street Bamenda, the youngest of eight siblings. Pius attended primary RCM Big Mankon Boys’, secondary school at Sacred Heart College (SAHECO) Mankon, finishing his studies in Cameroon with High School at the Nacho Comprehensive College.
From his early childhood pranks, it was clear that Pa Fusi was the embodiment of some incredibly special personality traits. His siblings and relatives, parents, schoolmates, and friends testify to his fun loving, playful, clownish, super generous, happy “only when you are too”, nature. Pa Fusi was naturally an extrovert, getting his energy from crowds of people. He was always the heart of the party, a life he described as “living to the fullest” while simultaneously reaching out to the less privileged at every opportunity. Pa Fusi loved to tell a good story. Everyone knew he was deeply emotional and would spontaneously shed free flowing tears if your story was deeply touching (whether sad or joyful) and even when he himself was the narrator. And if he noticed that you were in any kind of distress, especially financial, he readily emptied his pockets for you. Such was the character, formed out of an extremely strict upbringing by his Catholic Christian parents and older siblings, that Pa Fusi brought from Bamenda to Los Angeles, California.
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EARLY LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES: 1980s Los Angeles
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The 70s and 80s are almost forgotten for the push and pull factors that passionately drove young people to seek an education in Europe and the United States. The strongest deterrent was the fact that 90% of parents could not really afford to send their children to study abroad. Many resorted to selling precious family land and houses when the njangie monies proved insufficient. On the other hand, life in America could only be imagined since few students returned home on vacation. Those early photos with everyone leaning on an exceptionally large American car kept prospective students striving to be included among those lucky ones who got approved for student visas. Being the last child in the family, Uncle P’s dream to study in America was as big as the pressure inadvertently placed on their parents and older siblings to pull every string to enable the “American Dream” of this future shining star.
That is how early in the fall of 1987 Uncle P arrived in Los Angeles, California with his big brother’s classmate and friend, Dr. Julius Abiedu and his wife Patience as host and mentor. He initially enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA. Like most students from Africa, Uncle P worked odd jobs to pay his way through college. Adjusting to the reality of life in America, he transferred to California State University, Los Angeles where he eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), receiving a Florence Nightingale Award for his outstanding performance (academic competence and empathy in patient care). He obtained his license as a Registered Nurse (RN) and was employed as Director of Nursing at his first job out of college, on account of his remarkable leadership skills.
The beauty of these Americas typically lies in the diversity of cultures and peoples that inhabit this most grandiose of lands. Uncle P brought his combined zest for life, and his African and Catholic upbringing into the uniquely individualistic, capitalist Los Angeles. Uncle P has often narrated how he brought in homeless people to sleep in his tiny efficiency apartment because he could not stand seeing people homeless. And he remained undeterred in this practice even when one of them made off with the bulk of his belongings. Many who knew Uncle P in LA speak about his exemplary generosity towards everyone he met; how he organized great parties at his home, and especially his ability to make people laugh, and his jovial spirit. Significant during his time in Los Angeles, is the fact that he started a family and had two beautiful daughters, Michelle & Nicole of whose endeavors Pa Fusi was exceedingly proud. True to his traditional roots, Uncle P also remained actively involved in the Cameroonian Community in Los Angeles. In 2005, he left Los Angeles for Houston, Texas in the quest for a job that enabled him to recruit his two struggling nieces already living there.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
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Uncle P’s passion for Nursing originated from his older sister and role model, Mrs. Mary Olga Ngum Ndikum, herself a highly trained nurse. Uncle P spoke very often of the influence and high esteem in which he held his adorable Big Sister and her cherished husband, Charles Fon Ndikum with whom he lived while attending Nacho Comprehensive High School in Bamenda. They are both among the special people to whom he dedicated his book: “How Far is One Second Ahead”.
Uncle P has spent his entire professional life as a healthcare practitioner. His beautiful wife is also a nurse by profession. This profession not only runs in the family, but it was the natural caregiving tradition of her profession and deep love for her husband that ensured Pa Fusi received the absolute best of TLC right through to his last moments.
COMMUNITY & SOCIAL LIFE – the Houston Phase
And so, it is that in 2005 Pa Fusi “lands” in Houston, bringing along his love for people, for fun, jokes, parties, sports, music, tradition, Giving and all things godly. His first objective was to find himself a job where he could provide employment to his nieces, and to anyone else he could help provide a livelihood. Pa Fusi’s relocation from Los Angeles to Houston was a big blessing in every sense. While in Houston, he progressed professionally, spiritually, and socially. His love for family was blessed by the birth of Brian, his first son and third child. As he immersed himself into Houstonian life, the rest is history.
Or was it? For unbeknown to him, in 2010 a young lady who was to become his “Helen of Troy” relocated from Maryland to Houston. But it was not until Thanksgiving 2011 that they met for the first time and Pa Fusi was completely smitten. Despite his intensive charm offensive, the beautiful Helen resisted all his advances while slowly growing admiration for his public persona on display at various community events. Their romance finally clicked when Pa Fusi got his first dance with his HoT, and the romance took off at supersonic speed. Their first sermon at St. Cyril was about marriage, an appropriate indication for Pa Fusi to plot his strike. On Thanksgiving Day 2012 Helen cooked her first big meal to entertain Pa Fusi’s family unaware that she was organizing her own engagement party. The couple tied the knot in a civil ceremony on 26th November 2013, with a big pre-wedding celebration on 30th November in Houston. The church ceremony took place several weeks later at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Big Mankon, Bamenda. Upon their return to Houston after their wedding, Pa Fusi and his now wife finally settled to a love-filled married life. During that time, their two last children, Liam and Lena were born.
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Ma Helen has often described her marriage to the love of her life as a love and fun filled adventure. Her husband in her own words has been Respectful, Attentive, Affectionate, Totally Loving and Giving. She swears he has been a Good Husband, and she would marry him again without batting an eyelid. She too has been a Good Wife to him. She is known and loved by her husband’s family for her Strength, Independence, Managerial skills, Maturity beyond her years and Excellent Culinary skills. Ma Helen also loves mother to all five of their children.
Considering the way Pa Fusi immersed himself into life in Houston, he did by his own standards live life to the full. His Love for Music is evidenced by the promotion of his adopted son, Fizzorap. His leadership skills are demonstrated by the critical roles he has played in groups such as the vibrant Veterans “soccer” Club. Life for Pa Fusi is not meaningful without his connection to traditional roots and that means Bafut Manjong, of which he is a Founding Member and Elder. He was also a very active SHESAN and lively Mishe.
CHRISTIAN LIFE
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Pius’ Relationship with God speaks for itself. He was a fervent believer in faith lived through action. His friends easily chose the couple as godparents to their children. Their first two godsons are Vianney Njiwah and Zuriel Tanifum, with prospective godchildren Zuriel Annoh among others. Pa Fusi was very active in the (ACCCH) Assumption Cameroon Catholic Community at St. Nicholas downtown. The Fusi family was a permanent fixture at Mass on Sundays, and each Mothers’ Day Pa Fusi himself would lead the Cooking Crew at the grill. Pa Fusi wrote a book that is very much an expression of his lived Faith.
The Book, titled “How Far is One Second Ahead” started in 2004 as a listening exercise and the first step towards expressing his passion of being a Messenger and Spokesperson for God. He talks in the book about being guided away from wrong decisions by a strictly Catholic Mother, who along with his dad insisted on giving to the less fortunate what little you had. A central theme of the book: “Success is not measured in the amount of money we have but in the difference we make in people’s lives”, can be taken as Pa Fusi’s mantra along with other quotes from the book. (i) We never know who God is going to put in our paths to give us that thing we have always asked him for. (ii) When the time calls for immediate or instant kindness do not hesitate and let your blessings pass you by. (iii) As you give freely, so shall you receive freely and even more than what you give. (iv) Having plenty and things in excess does not equal abundance. Instead, having what you want when you need it brings you satisfaction, and that equals abundance. (v) Start wanting what you have and stop wanting what you do not have. (vi) We all have the responsibility of caring and treating one another with love and respect irrespective of the race, gender, religion, accent and so on. About married couples, Pa Fusi had this to say: (vii) Only Couples Themselves Know Their Personal Dynamics. (viii) It is okay to disagree because we are different, but we must always remember that we need to come to a compromise to meet a common goal to benefit the two parties involved. And Finally, with regard to GRATITUDE Pa Fusi said: The Lord says that in all things, we should give thanks.
THE MEANING OF “SHYZHELING” = GOD IS NUMBER 1.
In signing his book to a friend, Pa Fusi wrote: Be inspired and know that God loves you. You are valued. Shyzheling. In putting God Number One in his own life, Pius became a free service personal life coach to the many people who came to know and value him. It can be said that he successfully changed the lives of people by inspiring them to live up to their expectations…. many entrepreneurs, musicians and nurses can testify to this fact.
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PA FUSI: WHAT WILL WE MISS THE MOST ABOUT YOU?
Pa Fusi was selected as “Chop Chair – MUNEFOR” in his family despite being the youngest child because of his very evident leadership qualities and outsized empathy. A Houstonian declared when he learned of Pa Fusi’s passing, that “were it not for COVID and social distancing regulations, there is no hall in Houston that could contain the population that would come out to pay its respects to this man”.
Pa Fusi will be sorely missed for his phenomenal personality.
APPRECIATION
Ma Helen and the entire family at home and abroad send special thanks to all the groups: Houston Veterans; Bafut Manjong; ACCCH; BACCO; Invisible Friends; ABAKWA Partners, SHESANS and Pa Fusi’s colleagues from work; individuals, families and friends who turned out in their numbers to support and then to condole with the family during Pa Fusi’s long illness as well as in the early days following the news of his passing. A special message of thanks to Ma Helen’s pillars: Abby, Nayah, Vivian, Minella, Terry, Minora, Severine, Dora, Mah & Lizzy, and the countless women who ensured there was food in sufficient quantities, and for Pa Fusi’s friends Eric, Ivo and Asong Suh who readied the house to receive guests. Many thanks to the entire Houston Community, the diverse groups, and individuals whose Financial, Spiritual, Moral Support and Generosity makes the pain lighter. To everyone’s kind actions, thoughts and prayers: MIYAKA.