Ima Udofia

Ima Udofia, age 84, at rest October 10, 2025.  Visitation at Heritage Funeral Home 3117 S. Oak Park Avenue in Berwyn, IL. on Sunday October 26, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  

Funeral Services to be held on Saturday November 1st, from 11:00 - 1:15 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3233 Annandale Road, Falls Church VA with graveside service following from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery, 401 N. Roosevelt Street, Falls Church, Virginia.

Ima Akang Udofia was born on April 1, 1941, in the Village of Ikot Anwana to the late Chief Akang and Adiaha Okoro Akang. Ima’s strong and beloved mother raised her and was a tremendous and lasting influence, given that her father passed away when she was 5 years old. Ima was challenged to set aside some customs to avoid potential pitfalls. She embraced her mother’s strong will and fortitude to attend school. Together, they deftly avoided Ima entering into an arranged marriage during her teenage years, creating space to acquire foundational childhood education. Ima’s maiden family extended past the village of Ikot Anwana into the broader township of Ukpom Anwana, where her dear Aunt (Tity) aided in Ima’s care and enjoyed helping raise her, alongside her own four children. From her immediate maiden family, Ima is predeceased by her two older siblings: (Mary & Mbeke, fondly known as Eka Asuquo & Eka Edet) and her younger brother (Okori): her beloved late nephews (Asuquo, Edet), and her late nieces (Bessie, Elizabeth), her Aunt (Tity)and her first cousin (Efiong). Left to cherish her memories are nephews and nieces, Glory, Idung, Nsima, Enoima) and her surviving first cousins, (Sunday, Okon, Alice). Ima’s predeceased relatives in marriage include her late husband, Ikpe Benjamin, and his siblings, (brothers- Etim, James, Mboho) and sister (Mary Thompson). Ima is survived by her brother in laws (Amos, Uwem). Ima’s unrelenting love and devotion to her maiden family and relatives became a core and
underpinning commitment to provide support. Ima’s immediate and surviving family includes: four sons (wives)- Uduak (Traci), Nkere (Naureen), Anietie (Valerie), and Ekom (Melissa); Ten grandchildren-Indhira, Akang, Aisha, Noah, Javen, Gabe, Isiah, Imanuel, Nahlia, Naomi; four great grandchildren-Ariana, , Nyla, Kaisen, Navi. Serving as the Matriarch for her growing family was her passion and a great source of daily joy!  Ima and her late husband for 62 years, Ikpe, were deeply connected in life and reinforcing partners in their marriage and journey in life together. They had a shared vision on education, continuing to grow and advance, keeping family first, and a shared commitment supporting their siblings and others to advance in life. Their shared empathy and drive to advance and support communities in need led to major and lasting legacies. Ima was the catalyst and activist, leaving Ikpe sometimes to be the diplomat.  Along with raising four successful sons and a growing family as a united team, they made time to lead and support: the immigration of 20+ families and relatives to the US, often housing them in their home for months; led the effort and invested in educational resources for women. co-founded the new Christ the King Lutheran Church in Uruk Uso and spurred the spread of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod across West Africa; founded Ima Abasi International and built health and wellness clinics; installed water pumps for clean water in the villages, provided resources for education and women networks in the communities of their home country, Nigeria. Ima’s ongoing legacy will continue with Ima Abasi International and through her memoir, which she authored in 2000.

Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone. . . Those we love can never be more than a thought apart, for as long as there is memory, they’ll live on in the heart.

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