Helen Okorafor
February 7, 2025 – 1:30pm cst
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and community pillar, Dr. Helen Okorafor, age 79, on January 20, 2025 in Olympia Fields, Illinois. Surrounded by her loving family, she transitioned peacefully, leaving behind a rich legacy of love and commitment.
Born on February 8, 1945 in Jos, Nigeria, to Roseline Erigbuaku and Michael Ezette Okwara. Helen was the eldest daughter in a family of five. Growing up in Isiekenesi, Nigeria, she was a trailblazer as a youth. A gifted athlete, she became a Nigerian celebrity for breaking records and winning medals in the javelin in the 60s. She even qualified for Nigeria’s Olympic team.
In England, she went on to earn degrees as a registered nurse and in midwifery. Against the backdrop of the Biafran War, Helen arrived in the United States in 1969 to pursue her advanced degrees. In the process, she and her husband Godwin Okorafor opted to stay on in the United States. On July 4, 1970, Helen married the love of her life, Dr. Godwin Sunday and their union was blessed by four children- Ifeoma, Ngozi, Nnedi and Emezie.
Helen ultimately earned her PhD in Health Administration from Xavier University in Ohio. Her academic achievements in tandem with raising three young children were a testament to her ambition, discipline and brilliance, qualities that defined her life. Together, Helen and Godwin built a life brimming with inquisitive joy, love, confidence, and purpose, traits they shared with the community they built throughout Chicagoland.
Helen was a compassionate wife, an unwavering mother, a grandmother extraordinaire, and a consummate diplomat. She was a genuinely beautiful human being who took immense pride in both her American and Nigerian cultures and deeply cared for her community. Her commitment to service was steadfast, as well—from volunteering annually for the Special Olympics to co-founding and leading the Pan African Alliance (PAA) for decades to her commitment to her local parish Infant Jesus of Prague. On top of all this, her passion for sports lived on in her love for the sport of tennis. Helen was a force of nature, who embodied a rich life that touched countless people.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Helen began showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. For five years, she journeyed through the challenges of the illness with grace and dignity, supported by her devoted family and friends. Though her physical presence is no longer with us, her spirit remains a guiding light, inspiring us to live with the same kindness and love she personified.
She is survived by her loving children, Drs. Ifeoma and Nnedi, and Emezie (J.D.) Okorafor and beloved grandchildren Anyaugo, Obioma, Onyedika and Chinedu. She was predeceased by her husband (Godwin) and daughter (Ngozi).
Rest in power, Dr. Helen. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
Sincerely and with Love,
Dr. Ifeoma Okorafor
Dr. Nnedi Okorafor
Emezie Okorafor, JD
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