Mrs. Eugenia Ame Djaisi (nee Apaloo) was born on the 2nd of February 1986 in Palime, Togo, to Mr. Raphael Apaloo, a merchant from Adina and Madam Tsotso Lomo from La-Accra and Aneho, Togo, both of blessed memory. She was the fifth of ten siblings. Her father Mr. Raphael Apaloo settled in Kpando in the Volta Region where she had her early formative education. She first attended Holy Child Teacher Training at Cape Coast in the Central Region, then went on to complete her education at the Holy Child Teacher Training in

Takoradi in the Western Region.  Eugenia, as recalled by her cousins, did not want to attend school in Cape Coast. She protested when she had to go to school. Her uncle in Swedru at the time, had to cajole her into going to the school.  After her training, she went back to Kpando and taught at the Roman Catholic primary school in Kpando   It was there that she met her husband and lifetime partner, Mr. Franz. Djaisi (deceased), who was teaching at the Bishop Herman College in Kpando.  Eugenia and Franz fell in love and got married on 5th of April 1959.

 

Her husband became a foreign service officer and subsequently she accompanied him on his missions to Sudan and Djibouti. She again accompanied her husband to Ethiopia, Congo Kinshasa and in his position in Zambia as the Permanent Secretary with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNCEA). In 1970, her husband rejoined the foreign affairs and was posted as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Australia and Germany.

Upon her return to Ghana, Mrs. Djaisi also presided over the Former Ambassadors Wives Association in Accra for two separate terms, undertaking philanthropic activities as part of their mandate.

 

Whilst in Zambia, she worked with an Israeli proprietress called Mrs. Rankow, who ran a highly sought after international creche as a teacher and trusted assistant. It was that experience that led her to establish her own nursery in Ghana, Merry Mary after her husband’s duty as Ambassador formally ended.  She took on the dual role of both owner and teacher until she retired. Merry Mary gained a reputation for quality and high standards in nursery education. Merry Mary became the de facto school for entrants into Christ the King International School and at present has a third generation of children keeping up the tradition.  Eugenia’s leadership at Merry Mary was characterized as a visionary and compassionate management style that fostered the perfect balance of discipline, guidance and friendship. The school’s commitment to instilling strong values and encouraging growth made it a unique and transformative experience for both staff and students.

Her structured approach and unwavering passion for quality education instilled in the teachers a sense of purpose and dedication that has taken them through their individual lives. Her advice to her teachers enabled them to find greater opportunities in life. Her words of wisdom were always a guiding light.   Merry Mary Kindergarten is renowned for not just being a school but a community where fairness, firmness, and love thrive.

 

Eugenia was very particular about her health and diet from an early age. She had an active lifestyle and went on almost daily morning walks.

She also liked gardening. During her leisure time, she would be found tending to her flower beds. Probably due to her early experience accompanying her husband on his missions, Eugenia enjoyed traveling a lot. Even after the family returned to Accra from their many international postings, she continued to visit her family both at home and abroad.

 

Eugenia was a devout Catholic and hardly missed her morning and Sunday Masses. She was a member of the choir in several parishes in and outside the country. In Lusaka, Zambia, she was a committed member of the Catholic church choir under the leadership of a Ghanaian choir master called Mr. Ulzin.  Eugenia loved to sing and was a member of the Marian choir of Christ the King Catholic Church at Cantonments, Accra.

 

Eugenia was a very family-oriented person who spared no effort in caring for family needs.

Consequently, she often organised family get-togethers at her home during the Christmas festive season. Indeed, Eugenia was not only a devoted mother to her nuclear family but spared no effort to assist her extended relations whenever she could.

As the popular adage goes, “When you educate a man, you educate an individual. However, when you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” In that regard, the Djaisi children were indeed blessed and privileged to have had an educated mother as it reflected in the quality of their lives.  She was not only a loving mother, but a trusted friend to each and everyone of her children.

 

CHILDREN

She was blessed with four children: Konrard Kodjo, Maris-Stella Adjo, Phyllis Ame and Mansa.

She was survived by four grandchildren, Keith Akyea-Djamson, Lebene Akyea-Djamson, Naa Dede Nerteley Nettey and Kofi Tetteh.

Reference: Funeral brochure 9th December 2024