“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” – Psalm 116:15 (NKJV)

Birth

We gather to celebrate the life and bid farewell to our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and deaconess, Mary Awone Kaketo, affectionately called Tasi or Mama Kaketo within the church. She was called into eternal glory on Sunday, 20th July, 2025 at about 5:31pm.

Mary Awone Kaketo was the fifth and last born of her siblings—Aboyome, Yevu, Sedofia, and Kofi—born to Amega Kwadzo Dortor Kaketo, a renowned herbalist and traditional priest of the Gbanvie clan of Mepe, and Madam Lydia Akorsiba Akorligle, a farmer of Atsiekpoe-Battor, both of blessed memory. She was born at Odumase Krobo in 1934 and named Odumasi Yoo by the chief.

Early Life

Awone was the second girl among her siblings, but after her elder sister Aboyome died young, she became the only female among three brothers. She earned the name Tasi (“Aunt”) as the only auntie for her nephews and nieces.

From adolescence, she showed diligence, neatness, and intelligence. At Atsiekpoe, her uncles chose her among her peers to serve surveyors who came to the village.

Vocation and Working Life

Her father’s early passing left the family under single parenting. Awone and her brothers supported their mother with farming. A skilled swimmer raised along the Volta River, she harvested oysters to provide food and income. Her brothers even built her a canoe for the work.

Later, her elder brother Yevu Kaketo enrolled her in apprenticeship to learn sewing. With intelligence and creativity, she mastered the two-year course in just six months. She also traded wax print (Hollandaise).

After the massive flooding caused by the Akosombo Dam, she relocated to the Northern Region, joining her brothers engaged in infrastructure projects across Tamale, Yendi, Bimbila, Sawla, Buipe, Damango and others.

For marriage and business opportunities, she later moved to Kumasi, trading in clothing and sewing. She also travelled through Kwahu South and Afram Plains during the fishing boom caused by the Akosombo Dam, and even delivered her last child during one expedition.

As her mother aged, she returned to care for her until her passing in 1976. At Aveyime, she continued her clothing business and diversified into chop bar operations at Ashaiman, trading potatoes, cassava dough, cassava, firewood, and other goods. She was truly industrious.

Marriage and Family Life

In 1954, at Tamale, she married Mr. Morris Kwame Akorli, a former Clerk of Council from Adidome. They had four children:

1. Madam Janet Mawuwoe Akorlie
2. Mr. Stanley Kwesi Akorlie (deceased)
3. Mr. Vincent Papavi Akorlie (deceased)
4. Mr. Dennis Bessah Accorley (deceased)

After Mr. Akorli’s death, she married Mr. Albert Kworku Adzevia from Tsiame. They had two children:

1. Dnss. Mrs. Eunice Afafa Adzevia-Agbitor
2. Elder Paul Asiwome Doe Adjevia

In total, Tasi was blessed with six children. Mr. Adzevia passed in 1987. Before his death, she had mutually opted out of the marriage due to her Christian conviction against being a second wife. From her mid-forties until her death, she remained single.

Conversion and Christian Life

Born into a family of indigenous African worship, Tasi’s conversion was a divine intervention. While pregnant with her daughter Eunice, she sought an abortion at a Tamale hospital, but the doctor was arrested for illegal abortion. The nurses advised her to flee. After delivering safely, she dedicated the baby at an Assemblies of God church.

She later joined the New Covenant Church with her elder sister Elolo Dorforsi, but eventually, dissatisfied with some doctrines, they moved to The Church of Pentecost (CoP). On 2nd December 1976 at Battor, both were baptized by Pastor Andrews Tetteh. From then, she remained faithful to CoP until her last breath, loving and defending the church everywhere.

Initially, she thought faith was to be kept private, but after proper teaching, she became a family evangelist. Through her efforts, her brothers, their wives, and children—over 100 family members—joined CoP. She became the family’s prayer warrior, often called upon at gatherings. She even gave Christian names to her nephews and nieces.

Tasi’s faith was unshakable. She prayed for others, even while on her sickbed. At Tema General Hospital, she was seen interceding for critically ill patients.

She survived two boat accidents on the Afram River. The first happened while pregnant with Paul and carrying Eunice; miraculously, all survived. In the second, after many drowned, she was rescued by what she described as a supernatural appearance of a huge odum board lifting her from the water—an encounter that strengthened her faith and won many souls when she testified at a General Convention in Great Ningo.

She also survived a head injury during a 1983 riot between Sege and Aveyime football teams, mysterious illnesses in 2017 at Tema General Hospital, and a taxi accident a year later that injured her leg. She attributed her survival to divine intervention.

Family Roles and Social Life

Tasi was the embodiment of the African mother and aunt. She bathed nearly all her brothers’ children and grandchildren, attended every family gathering, and mentored her brothers’ wives in home management.

She had a unique relationship with her brothers, addressing them respectfully as Fonye (“my brother”), while they called her Wotasi or Mawuwoe nane. Their bond was so deep that they never quarreled.

A peacemaker, she resolved tensions and kept the siblings united. She was generous, like the biblical Dorcas, freely giving clothes, food, and money to family, friends, and church members.

Failing Health

For the last six years of her life, Tasi battled ulcers on both legs. Through prayer and treatment, one healed, though the other persisted. Refusing to use a wheelchair or walking aid, she relied on faith and regained her ability to walk.

From March 2025, her health declined further. Despite medical interventions and prayer, her condition worsened. She was admitted at General Hospital from 14th to 16th July, 2025, and discharged, but her health did not improve. On 20th July, 2025, while being rushed again to the hospital, she breathed her last and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Her death was a great blow to the family. The siblings had passed away in the order of their birth, with Tasi the last. Her passing created a vacuum in the Kaketo family—she was a gem, an institution in herself, remembered for her godly counsel, advice, prayers, songs, jokes, nicknames, generosity, and kindness.

Farewell

Hede Nyuie le Nutifafa me!

Rest in Peace, Mama Kaketo!

Today, it is with a heavy heart we pay this glowing tribute to a remarkable and a noble woman who nurtured us with a golden heart and hands. Parting, they say is such sweat sorrow, but what can we say about a lovely woman who raised us?  Tasi as we affectionately called her was a pillar of love, strength and guidance, Tasi left an indelible mark on our lives and all children she have raised. Her unwavering dedication and sacrifice to our well-being, especially in our education forever be cherished. Her discipline and high moral standards taught us right from wrong, shaping us into the individuals we are today.

Tasi without formal education cherished and placed high premium on our education. She valued the important of education and she would do anything to raised money for our school commitment including selling her cloths, cooking utensils and jewelries to raise the money to settle all commitments. She have this saying that future when her children are done with education they can buy all those items she lost for their sake.

 Tasi is a prayer tower for us and the entire family. Her persistent prayer support and counsel were our rock proving comfort and wisdom in times of need. Tasi do not only pray but fast frequently for us, her ground children and her family even in her 80’s and 90’s. Our mother did not only pray for us but taught us how to pray and to depend on God for our needs in difficult and trying moments. As norm for Tasi, she would laid hands on us at dawn and afterwards proceeds to morning devotion.

Tasi would say she doesn’t have money and earthly properties to leave for us but the only thing she can leave for us is Jesus. When things are difficult she would asked us to pray and read the Psalms for comfort. Her favorite Psalms are 124 and 126. Tasi love Christian songs and she always welcome us with her own songs. We are awoken dawn by her songs. Tasi on countless occasions would alight from vehicles if worldly songs are played especially reggae songs. If drivers are reluctant in changing those songs to gospel ones at her request, she would only ask the driver to stop for to attend to nature call and that ends her journey with that vehicle.

These are few of her favorite songs;

 God you’re so good God you’re kind…

 Amanaman obantanpan pa Nyame…

Normenye Mawu fe nya…

We as children cannot find appropriate words to delineate what Tasi meant to us as a mother. Her exceptional love, selflessness and sacrifices knew no bounds, always putting our needs first before any other thing. Tasi is always on the move and we vividly remember her hustling to and fro just to make ends meet. She occasionally prepare banku and special adordi soup and parcel every one’s own from the Volta region even in school. Her generosity and kindness went far beyond her children, grandchildren, entire family and over fifty children she raised and all can attest to this fact.

Tasi just like any mortal being is not perfect but have her own flaws. She is frank, outspoken and speaks her mind as it is. Tasi hates wrong doing and as a great disciplinarian, she would not cover any act of wrong doing but would reprimand immediately. She communicate with us her eyes when there are visitors. Tasi is a godly mother who is courageous, fearless and defend what she believes in. You cannot come home with items she did not buy for you without much interrogation or simply asked to return it the rightful owners.

Tasi is industrious and hardworking. She sleeps very and by 1am she is at wake with singing and praying carrying her chores and 6am she is done with everything and gone back to sleep. This is the kind of mother we have lost. We have lost a family historian who charts and trace family tree with great retentive memory.

Tasi is such a great cook and she could turn any available scarce food into a delicious meal. There is always food at home for us and even visitors. It’s been said that a mother’s heart is the child’s classroom; truly our mother has schooled us with iron hands. She taught us virtues such as humility, respect, truthfulness and selflessness. She is a portrait of a godly mother. Words could not describe what Tasi meant to us and we will fondly remember her in our hearts and passed on her legacies from generations to generations.

HEDE NYUIE!

MIAGAKPE GBADEGBE!!

REST IN THE BOSOM OF YOUR CREATOR!!!

Tasi’s life was a song of love and faith. Today as we say goodbye, we feel the silence her absence leaves behind. At 91, she was not only ours but belonged to so many. A mother too many and a faithful worker in the house of God. Tasi, just speaking your name brings tears to our eyes and warmth to our hearts all at once. How do we capture a lifetime of love in mere words? How do we honor a woman who was our entire world?

If you knew Tasi, you knew love. From the very beginning she was there, bathing us as babies, watching over us as we grew and filling our childhood vacations with warmth and joy. Living with Tasi, even for just a few days always felt like stepping into a world of love and comfort. Her meals were always filled with the quiet luxury of being so deeply cherished. With Tasi, even the simplest days became special.

Tasi was a woman of prayer. You could never leave her side without her lifting you up to God. She prayed over our dreams, our struggles and our futures. She wanted nothing more than to see us shine, to go far and to prosper. She carried our lives in her heart so closely that she even kept pictures of our favorite people tucked in that little pouch she always tied around her waist. It was her way of keeping us near, no matter the distance.

Tasi saw us at our very best and at our very worst. She walked with us through every season, the joy, the pain and the transitions that shaped who we are. But her grace never wavered. And it was not just us. Even strangers felt her kindness. Her love and prayers stretched far beyond our family, touching lives we may never even know. We thank God for Tasi’s life, for the gift she was to us and for the countless ways she showed us what it means to love without condition.

You weren't just our grandmother—you were our mother in every way that mattered. From the moment we took our first breath to the last time we heard your voice, you loved us with a fierce, protective tenderness that knew no bounds. We were your children, and oh, how deeply we felt that truth in every fiber of our being.

You had this incredible gift, Tasi. No matter how tall we grew, how old we became, or how far we wandered, you never stopped seeing us as your babies. There was something magical in the way you looked at us—like we were still small enough to cradle in your arms, still precious enough to deserve your softest voice, your gentlest touch. In a world that often made us feel invisible, you made us feel like we were everything.

Your laughter was medicine for our souls. That cheeky smile, those moments when your eyes would sparkle with mischief—you taught us that joy wasn't just an emotion, it was a rebellion against life's hardships. Even on our darkest days, you found ways to pull giggles from our heavy hearts. You were sunshine wrapped in human form, and we basked in your light every single day.

And your prayers, dear God, your prayers! You were a warrior on your knees, fighting battles for us that we didn't even know were being waged. Your faith was unshakeable, your devotion unwavering. When we couldn't find the words to pray, you prayed them for us. When we lost hope, yours carried us through. You built a fortress of prayer around our family, and we felt safe inside those walls.

The way you loved us through food—it was poetry written in spices and served on plates. Those special meals you made just for each of us weren't just nourishment for our bodies; they were love letters to our hearts. Every bite told us we mattered, every dish whispered "you are cherished." Your kitchen was sacred ground where love was the main ingredient in everything you created.

Your voice singing through the house was the soundtrack of our childhood, the melody that made our house a home. Whether you were humming while you worked or lifting your voice in praise, you filled our world with music. Your songs taught us that even in ordinary moments, there could be extraordinary beauty.

You made everything around you beautiful, Tasi. Your home was spotless not just because you were neat, but because you understood that caring for your space was caring for the people who lived in it. You created a sanctuary for us, a place where everything was in perfect order because your love was in perfect order too.

Now you're gone, and the silence is deafening. The emptiness is crushing. But even through our tears, we know this truth: we are who we are because you loved us the way you did. You didn't just raise us—you shaped our very souls with your tenderness, your laughter, your faith, your songs, and your endless, boundless love.

We will miss you until our last breath, but we will carry you with us always. Every time we choose love over anger, every time we find joy in simple moments, every time we believe when belief seems impossible—that's you, Tasi, living on through us. You were our heart, our home, and our everything. And you always will be.

Rest now, our precious grandmother. Rest in the peace you gave us, in the love you planted deep within our hearts. We'll see you again someday, and oh, what a reunion that will be!

Awone, rest peacefully in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you reunite with your sons Brother and Bessah, tell them we send our love and greetings. Let them know they are never forgotten, just as you will never be. Until we meet again on the Resurrection Day, remain in the perfect peace of the God you served so faithfully.

Forever Our Tasi!

Hede Nyuie, Tasi. !!

Rest In Perfect Peace!!!

“Then I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, “write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes say the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works fellow them” (Revelation 14:13). NKJV

Deaconess Mary Awone Kaketo (Rtd.) affectionately called Mama Kaketo or Tasi joined The Church of Pentecost from the New Covenant Church after a short fellowship with the Assemblies of God Church at Kumasi but was not baptized in any of them. She was baptized on the 2^nd December, 1976 by Pastor Andrews Tetteh of Blessed memory into The Church of Pentecost at Battor District. Mama Kaketo accepted the Lord Jesus Christ wholly with her entire body soul and spirit. She loved the Lord and the name Jesus and this was evident in the way she lived her Christian life in the church and outside the church.

She fellowshipped with Battor District from the time of her baptism and was ordained as a Deaconess in the year 1983. She received the Holy Spirit baptism few years after her water baptism. She relocated from Aveyime to Ashaiman after the demise of her elder brother in the year 1983 during the tenure Apostle J.K. Essel now retired but occasionally visit the Aveyime Assembly. After retirement in the church from active service in the year 2007, during the tenure of Pastor George Kwesi Timinca and the Presiding Eldership of Elder Innocent Ocansey. She continued to fellowship with the Jerusalem Assembly until the year 2012 when she decided to go back to her home town Aveyime from the year 2019 due to ill health, her children decided to bring her back to Ashaiman to be closer to them and to have access to proper healthcare.

Mama Kaketo within the church cycle is known to be a woman of few words but very prayerful. She hardly talks at presbytery meetings but is noted as one of elderly officers who calm tensions down when tempers are flaring and speak when it becomes very necessary. She loved fasting and even in her eighties she still fast. Although, without formal education she could remember her favorite quotations and preached when called upon with practical examples. Mama Kaketo loves songs and sings as well. She is noted for a unique way of dancing with the left arm. She is one who would not take God’s glory but testify to the congregation at the least of what the Lord has done for her and her family. She is generous and give willingly to the good cause of the kingdom business. Mama Kaketo is like the Dorcas, Priscila and Aquila of biblical days. She put all her resources at the disposal of the church especially her great concern for the up keep of ministers in the church especially in the Battor District and earned the name “Overseers’ Mother”.

In her generosity and kindness to the church, Mama Kaketo voluntarily gave her room to the church to be used as mission house for over five years when the district seat was moved from Battor to Aveyime without any available accommodation during the tenure of Overseer I.K. Adeti. Mama Kaketo as a visionary who loved to see the expansion of the church in the future offered a seed money with her late elder brother Sedofia Kaketo for blocks when the Aveyime church building was a small mud building. Mama Kaketo with permission from her elder brother Kofi Kaketo offered his dining set as a platform chairs and table to the church. Tasi Kaketo’s house served as the church’s guest house hosting dignitaries from Accra and Tema and such personalities include; our founder Rev. James Mckeown, Aps. D. K. Annan, Aps. Patrick Asiamah, Aps. Alfred Koduah (Rtd.), Mama Eunice Addison, Mama Grace Addison, Mama Comfort Appiah, former Tema Area Women leader amongst great and noble personalities of our church. Mama Kaketo is hospitable.

Although, Mama Kaketo’s brothers’ were not members of the church in the initial stages but were later baptized into the church and for the love they had for their sister, they supported her and made available their resources to the service of the church. The current doors at the Aveyime Assembly was donated by her brother Kofi Kaketo to the glory of God.

Position held in the church include; Estate committee member, district marriage committee member, active member of Women’s movement now Women’s Ministry all in the Battor District. Mama Kaketo’s life is a source of education and teaching to the women’s ministry as how women can manage and control their home. Her neatness is evident to all who she was hospitable to. Late Deaconess Comfort Appiah formal Tema Women’s leader on such visits to the Battor District brought Mama Kaketo’s cooking pot to Tema to teach the women’ ministry as someone in the village can be clean and neat to that extent. You could virtually view your face on her sauce pans and cooking pots.

At Ashaiman in the mid-eighties, she was trusted with keeping of evening service offerings for the Jerusalem Assembly.

Minister under whom she served.

1. Aps. J.K Essel (Rtd.)
2. Aps. E.K. Barabu (Rtd.)
3. Aps. E.K. Akpabli (Rtd.)
4. Prophet S.K Osei of blessed memory
5. Aps. Robert Acquar of blessed memory
6. Aps. Anane Denteh
7. Pastor Andrew Tetteh of blessed memory
8. Pastor Kofitoe (Rtd)
9. Pastor Francis Amewuga (Rtd)
10. Pastor Robert Gaba (Rtd.)
11. Pastor Thomas Agbeke
12. Pastor E.R Bonney of blessed memory
13. Pastor G.K. Timinca (Rtd.)
14. Pastor Dr. Amposah Kuffour (Rtd.)
15. Pastor Mireku (Rtd)
16. 
    

Mama Kaketo was very faithful in tithing even in her old age when her children sent her money and she is not able to go church she would put all together and sent to the late Elder B.A Okantey to be sent to the church. She was a great counsellor whose words mends broken marriages. A great mentor who have coached many young women and men in the church who have become leaders from Battor and Ashaiman. Above all, Mama Kaketo was an un-ordained evangelist who testify about Christ everywhere she goes especially within her family. A life well lived for Christ is worth for celebrating. We salute her gallancy and dedication to the kingdom of God. The United State of Ashaiman says Mmo Akoapa, ne nokware fo.

We love you and will surely miss you as the last of the three elderly Thursday born Deaconesses at the Jerusalem Assembly, thus Kokonye, Aunty Yaa and Mama Kaketo. Until that 20^th July, 2025 the church has been visiting including Pastors to pray for her and offer Holy Communion to her and on most of such visits she would pray for us and tell us histories about McKeon and the church and blessed us. We did not anticipate that her departure from us would be so sudden but as believers we take consolation from the scriptures that she is not dead but falling asleep and will be raised when the last trumpet sounded. She fought the good fight

Fare Thee Well!

Da yie, Da yie!!

Rest In The Lord Till We Meet Again!!!