One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord
And contemplate His temple.
- Psalm 27
Biography
This biography of Auntie or sister Joe has been compiled mostly by her various grandchildren who have on various occasions over the past years sat with her and noted down her life stories or tolies as she termed them.
Auntie Joe or Sister Joe or Ma, was born Josephine Naa Larteley Mensah at Ada Foah on the 20th October 1930 to Mr Enoch Mensah a police commissioner from Prampram (related to the Prampram chief as she put it). She came from a resourcefully rich family where she was the first born (of her mother Anna Julia Clauzy) and only girl. She had 4 younger brothers from her mother’s side. Francis, Patrick, Adzaman Christopher Aryeetey and Willie Amarfio, (half brother to Sol Amarfio of the legendary international Osi Bisa band of Ghana). She had an older sister from her father’s side Leticia Adu-Ampomah (nee Mensah).
She was brought up at Ada Foah in a closely knit family with her resourceful grandmother Rebecca Kwaley Quartey-Papafio known in the family as “Mami Kwaley” or “talk-e tro” basically meaning “talk the truth”! Her mother Anna Julia Clauzy was a twin to Helen Henrietta Akweley Clauzy (later Caesar). Their father was from the French city of Marseille. The families from both twins are still very much in touch with each other and quite closely united as of today.
Auntie Joe attended the Ada Foah Presbyterian School, until standard 7. At age 18 she enrolled at the Nurses Training College in Korle-Bu, Accra. Her group were the first to be trained as SRNs (State Registered Nurses) by the British Colonial Government of Ghana.
She got married at age 20 to Mr Robert Kofi Johnson from Anloga, who had attended Achimota and then Jesus College, Oxford University in Great Britain. He graduated in Jurisprudence and worked as a government agent. After their wedding, due to her husband’s various government postings, they relocated across Ghana, first Accra then Akuse, Ashanti Mampong, Kumasi and then back to Accra. Spending a year or two at each location.
They had four children Georgina Ampaba, Louis Banka Kwasi, Joana Ama Benduwa, and Robert Kwame Amissah of blessed memory.
Auntie Joe started a working position as a SRN at Ridge Hospital. She was later also offered a teaching position and was involved in training enrolled nurses at the newly established nursing training school at the same hospital.
Auntie Joe’s Catholic religion was the absolute mainstay in her life which she passed on to her children. She was a very progressive person empowering women’s rights. She combined an active and engaging home life, managing all four children, husband and household whilst pursuing a dynamic nursing and tutoring profession. At the same time Auntie Joe was actively engaged in church activities especially at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Asylum Down. She had two similarly devoted friends in the catholic faith with whom she co-ordinated duties with. The families referred to them as the “three musketeers”. These ladies were at church activities after office hours at least 2-3 times a week, year after year. These were her very best friends in thick and thin: Mrs Georgina Ama Apaloo and the late Mrs Catherine Boukor Mensah. These three were very emancipated in those days where they led very active social lives with their families and further arranged their own “trio” outings, activities and dining outs without the presence of their husbands or “Efos”.
There was a time when Auntie Joe`s husband Efo Rob wanted to gift her a car and proposed to get her the then very popular Renault 4. This short estate wagon had an odd dashboard mounted umbrella handled gear lever rather than a floor mounted stick. Instead of moving the gear stick up and down on the floor you pushed, pulled and swung it through an H pattern in the horizontal plane. This was too much for Auntie Joe who felt the gear a very awkward contraption and nothing a respectable lady should be seen manoeuvring with within the city of Accra and thus firmly declined the proposed offer. She however got her way and ended up with a Fiat 850 special instead, a car not only she used but also her children of driving age who took many an advantageous ride.
No biography of Auntie Joe would be complete without mentioning her extreme interest in sports. With an active school sports career in her baggage, trying to outrun her whenever one was naughty was never a good plan. Her children always thought it embarrassing to have friends around whenever there was football or boxing on the radio or TV. She would even wake up in the middle of the night to listen to Cassius Clay boxing fights. During boxing matches, she could not help but wriggle in her seat shouting “Ne hi ha mo” plainly translated as “ that was good for you” and was it football, she would be kicking out in the air and urging forward the strikers very loudly especially when Accra Hearts of Oak were playing.
She even went as far as playing a charity nurses football match at the Accra sports stadium during her time at Ridge Hospital. She reminded me of this during the last AFCON – Africa cup of nations - 2023, when Banka (I) called to enquire what she was up to. She replied, “What else would I expect an ardent supporter of football to be doing during the ongoing competition”? Banka (I) apologized immediately.
Another source of embarrassment, for her then teenage children, was her insistence on prescribing any visitor to the house young or old her cider vinegar water therapy for good health and life. This was apple cider vinegar treated or mixed with warm water +/- other natural additives in specific proportions. Many a visitor had gone away more than blessed. For the sceptics, of which they were a minority, it is now heartwarming to reveal today that this therapy was really based on a scientific paper that was presented in 1966, titled “How to use the powerful health qualities of pure natural cider by Paul C. Bragg” – (a life extension specialist) which was recently found in her files. She had good base knowledge which had been doubted.
She lived in the Ridge residential area in Accra until her beloved husband Robert retired from Government service as senior principal secretary, having previously held positions in various ministries including Justice, Trade & Industries, Forestry, Scholarships Secreteriat and Office of the President at Osu-Castle. After Robert’s retirement, the family moved to Tema, whilst their house at Kaneshie was under renovation.
Robert got sick whilst they were in Tema and was admitted to Korle-Bu. Every morning at 6am she would leave Tema to go to Korle Bu and visit him, before going to work at Ridge. Then after her shift she would go back to the hospital before going home to Tema in the evening around 9pm. Robert’s doctors were very impressed with her diligent, consistent and devoted presence. In the week before Robert passed she stayed at the hospital 24/7 only going to her friend Mrs. Apaloo’s place every couple of days or so to rest and bathe. Her bosom friends Mrs. Apaloo & Mrs. Mensah took charge of all meals and chores for her and the family at large. Within a year of falling sick Robert passed away from Cancer, aged 57, and was buried at Anloga.
Auntie Joe then moved house to Kansehie where she joined St Theresa’s Church engaging actively in several church groups (including being a founding member of Theresians International, a Christian women’s group, of which she held positions of Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer over the years. The Accra Archdiocese Theresians International honoured her as a ‘Woman of Wisdom’ for all her years of service). She continued working at Ridge Hospital and retired as a nurse after 40 years of service. While she could still drive, she drove out to the poor and sick after Sunday mass offering different services and help. She later became a senior member of the Sacred Heart Union and to crown her spiritual achievements at St. Theresa’s she became one of a very few to receive the high achievement of becoming an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion.
One of the highlights of Auntie Joe`s retired life was being treated with a surprise 80th birthday visit to the Vatican that her children and grandchildren organized for her. Something she had been dreaming about for years. A wonderfully serene and secluded accommodation run by nuns of the Vatican in a central part of Rome was chosen and the highlight of the trip was the celebration of high mass officiated by then Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter`s Square. You can imagine all she experienced and all she took with her both spiritually and physically from that trip.
One of the deepest heartbreaks of her life was the passing away of her second son Robert Kwame Amissah Johnson aka “ Bob J” in December 2010. He has nevertheless always been present in her life since then, likewise with the hearts of the family.
She asked to be buried in a simple coffin without extravagant decorations with white and red as her colours when her time came to go. She wanted a `one stop` funeral without any pre-or post funeral deliberations. Wishes which were noted down more than 5 years ago. Amazingly her last wishes would be very similar to that of the recently deceased Pope Francis, who also asked for a simple coffin with funeral attire being white and red. They both died from double sided lung infection or pneumonia. We believe they may certainly be now discussing their transitions from this life and we are comforted in that. Her coffin is thus designed with minor adjustments after that of the late Popes. Auntie Joe was called to the Lord after a short illness without much suffering. She went very peacefully with her rosary in hand. Just hours before she passed, she had received blessings and communion from Father Rex Vorgbe. The same morning she died, she had asked those by her side to name any petitions they wanted to be presented to the Lord for she was soon on her way there. We are all happy that she is now in the right place and find solace in that.
We the entire family cannot but thank the St. Theresa Diocese from the bottom of our hearts for the untiring dedication and weekly visits for companionship, blessings and communion over the years when she had not been strong enough to make it to church. Words alone would not be enough. Thank you!
Auntie Joe left behind 12 grandchildren from her 4 children and 10 great grandchildren.
She was the last surviving sibling with all her younger brothers having passed and her older sister having passed away in 2023.
Auntie Joe will be missed by us all, especially all her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and many other family and friends she actively engaged with and supported spiritually in diverse ways.
May her blessed soul RIP !
Gallery
Tributes
Auntie Joe was one of the most wonderful people in my life. She taught me how to pray and always wrote prayers for me anytime she communicates with me.
When I was in Ghana anytime I don’t feel well and show up at Ridge Hospital she will stop whatever she was doing and attend to me. In fact not me alone. When our grandmother mamie Kwaley is sick she really go above and beyond taking care of her. For example after discharge the hospital, will will keep her at their residence for one or two months until she is well enough to travel and Mr Robert himself will drive her to Ada.
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal”
An Irish Proverb.
You are now in a better place with your maker. Till we meet again.
Ampaba, Banka and Joana be strong. A good job well done.
Ofoe Setordjie
Son of Esther Johnson
Auntie Jo, as I affectionately called her, was more than an aunt to me — she was like a mother. As the only girl among my father’s siblings, she wholeheartedly took up the responsibility of caring for my late sister Jane and me after the passing of my father, Christopher Ayitey. She did not only clothe and feed me, but she also shaped me spiritually, morally, and intellectually. She gave me a perspective on life that has guided me throughout the years and has molded me into the woman I am today.
She had such unique and interesting ways of teaching life lessons. Correction from her often came with laughter. I still remember the day I broke a plate in the kitchen, and instead of scolding me, she simply said, “Save the pieces for inventory.” That was her — wise, witty, and always finding ways to make you learn without breaking your spirit.
One of the things Auntie Jo was widely known for were her marriage tips. Anyone who ever listened to her can testify to this. She never failed to remind me of the qualities to look out for in a man, the importance of valuing myself, and how to care for my marital home. I remember when my husband was courting me, he was so terrified of her because of how principled she was. He hardly dared to show his face at our house and would often send his cousin as his “representative” to deliver messages on his behalf.
Spiritually, Auntie Jo played a profound role in my life. She made the Catholic faith so beautiful and appealing that I have never, for even a second, thought of leaving the church. She constantly quizzed me on the mysteries of the Rosary and on Catholic prayers, teaching me to take everything to God in prayer.
Her love also extended to my children. When I was in labor with my first child, she stayed close by, cheering me on through the entire process until my daughter was born. It was only natural that I made her my daughter’s godmother — a role she embraced wholeheartedly, not just to her goddaughter but to all my children. She remembered every one of their birthdays, showering them with her prayers, best wishes, and thoughtful gifts.
During my last visit with my daughter Kim, Auntie Jo was full of joy when she heard that Kim was at Ridge Hospital, where she herself had worked as a nurse years before. With her usual mix of humor and seriousness, she asked if there was a young man in the picture and told Kim to bring him for “quizzing and assessment.” That was classic Auntie Jo — always protective, always guiding, always loving.
Auntie Jo will be sorely missed, but her wisdom, her lessons, and her love will remain with us forever. We will continue to practice all that she taught us. May the good Lord grant her gentle rest in Abraham’s bosom until we meet again.
Auntie Joe was one of the most wonderful people in my life. She taught me how to pray and always wrote prayers for me anytime she communicates with me.
When I was in Ghana anytime I don’t feel well and show up at Ridge Hospital she will stop whatever she was doing and attend to me. In fact not me alone. When our grandmother mamie Kwaley is sick she really go above and beyond taking care of her. For example after discharge the hospital, will will keep her at their residence for one or two months until she is well enough to travel and Mr Robert himself will drive her to Ada.
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal”
An Irish Proverb.
You are now in a better place with your maker. Till we meet again.
Ampaba, Banka and Joana be strong. A good job well done.
Ofoe Setordjie
Son of Esther Johnson
Where do I even begin? I’m so deeply grateful that you were my grandmother. Growing up in Europe meant we didn’t see each other as often as I wished, but those annual trips to Ghana—and your visits to Sweden—were more than enough for my siblings and I to bond with you and each build our own special relationship with you.
When I moved to Ghana in 2016, our connection blossomed even more. I feel so fortunate that during the last decade of your life, you and I became such an integral part of each other’s lives. You had the best sense of humor—always finding a way to make me laugh when I visited. I loved sitting with you, listening to your stories: your footballing days, your career as a nurse and later as an instructor, and how you stood at Independence Square, pregnant with my dad, as Nkrumah declared, “Ghana, your beloved country, is free forever.”
I’ll never forget when I first introduced my husband Naasei—then my boyfriend—to you. You handed him a questionnaire to determine if he’d make a good husband for me. Needless to say, he passed with flying colours, and from that day on you always referred to him as my better half. Every phone call ended with you asking, “And how is your better half doing?” That tenderness extended to our children, Naya and Niam, who also became close to you. Our weekend visits to “the White House” are memories I will hold close to my heart.
Grandma Jo, you were a prayerful woman, your faith unwavering until the very end. We will always remember you as the funny, loving grandmother and great-grandmother you were.
Original JJ, my beloved grandmother, you are free forever. Rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord.
Rest Well and Rest in Peace
So many happy memories. I’ve always thought of you when I’ve thought about Ghana. Living in Sweden and going to Ghana every now and then has brought me a lot of different memories, and one of the earliest ones was of you and your lovely food. As a new born I was in Ghana at your house and the real proper first food I ate was fried yam at your place. Every time I went to Ghana, home to your house I knew there was always going to be spaghetti with minced meat sauce waiting for me and as kids you never wanted to make your jollof spicy for us making sure I could eat a lot, even though I always told you to make it more spicy for the next time I was going to visit.
I loved spending time with you and you always had a good humor. I loved going to the market with you, going to church, playing with the dogs, eat your food and just spend time together with you. You would try and teach me how to speak Adangbe and I would try to teach you Swedish. Whenever we spoke I would always get points from your quiz regarding everything and anything. If I hadn’t called you in a while I would get minus points but you would always make sure that I had plus point in the end of the conversation, making me happy.
I’ve always wanted to share my life with you and you’ve been there in Sweden for me when I graduated, if you weren’t there I would get a call or a text. Always ending your conversation with a prayer and reminding me about different prayers.
I’m so thankful for all the good memories you’ve given me. I’m so grateful that you got the opportunity to met my fiancé Gina. Travelling to Ghana and knowing that I won’t see you at your house in Kaneshie hurts. It will never be same coming back to Ghana. May your sole rest in peace.
She especially had a heart for marriages and families. She loved to pray for couples who longed for children and often encouraged them to pray to the Child Jesus. She proudly shared the joy of the many children born as answers to these prayers, a true testament to her faith and intercession.
But beyond her faith, she was also a wonderful, patient, and loving mother. Visits to Ada Foah to see relatives ensured the link between us and our relatives was kept.
She wasn’t just a mother to us, her own children, but a mother to many. She cared for others as if they were her own, and she did it with such quiet strength and devotion.
She taught me many valuable lessons, not only about faith but also about life and home. She passed down her love for cooking, teaching me traditional dishes like Kaaweku (Aprapransa), and instilling in me the importance of caring for family through simple, meaningful acts.
Ma was an inspiration for my vocation as a Midwife and Neonatal Nurse. Her hard working nature was an example for me. She had good intuition for those in need of help and covered me with prayers throughout my working life.
She also supported me in countless ways as I built my own life. While I worked long and difficult hours as a nurse in London, she lovingly cared for George and Laura, ensuring they always had the warmth of her presence when I could not be there.
Ma’s life was one of service, prayer, and love. She lived her faith with humility and strength, and she leaves behind not only the legacy of her children but also of all those she nurtured, prayed for, and guided along the way. I will always remember her as a good mother, a woman of prayer, and a shining example of faith in action.
I will always remember you as someone who filled every room with laughter. My very first real word came with you, back when I was just a baby in Åhus and my stroller broke—I said “accident.” From the very start, you were part of my story.
As a child visiting you, I remember how kind you were to make me a milder pasta dish because I couldn’t handle spicy food. It’s such a simple memory, but it showed your thoughtfulness and love.
To me, you were always a cool grandma—full of energy, dancing, joking, and bringing joy wherever you went. I will miss your laughter and your light, but I will always carry them with me.
May your soul rest in perfect peace until we meet again.
Yours always,
Denise Beniwa Johnson
Auntie Joe, the matriarch of the Johnson family! With your humour and gentle guidance you have been the grandmother and great grandmother that all our children, big and small, have loved and will remember for ever. Thank you for all the laughter, dancing lessons in the kitchen and for being brave enough to let Kevin teach you how you stand on a skateboard and coming with me for a walk on the beach in Åhus in minus 20 degrees 😄. You generously shared cooking advice and made fufu and light soup for our guests in Sweden so they still talk about it!
Auntie Joe, may you rest in peace and have a ball in heaven playing football with the angels until we meet again together with Jesus, our wonderful Lord and Saviour ♥️
As a son-in-law, and practically her son; for she fondly called me her prodigal son , I had the privilege of knowing and sharing in the life of a remarkable woman, Mrs. Josephine Johnson, affectionately known to us all as Original J. J.. She was truly a great woman who lived her life to the fullest and left lasting memories in the hearts of everyone who crossed her path.
One thing I will deeply miss is how she never failed to call me every year on my birthday. Her birthday came just a day after mine, and from time to time, we celebrated together ;moments that I will always cherish. As a health practitioner, she never took matters of health lightly. She often encouraged me to adopt simple but effective habits, like drinking a mixture of vinegar, honey, and warm water. She believed it would help me stay strong and fit, and indeed, it has become part of my daily morning routine — one of the many lasting gifts she left with me. She also had her own special way of making you feel loved, often greeting me with her signature phrase: *“Where are my 10,000 dollars?”* And even on her last day on this earth, as I visited her in the hospital, I told her I was bringing her those 10,000 dollars.
She cared so much that if she couldn’t reach me, she would call my wife or even my daughter, asking if she had done something to offend me. That was her way; she valued relationships deeply and never let distance or silence come between her and her loved ones.
Original J.J. was not just loving but also wise. Every conversation with her carried a lesson, for she always found a way to share knowledge, encouragement, and truth. She was a woman of great faith, who served her Maker wholeheartedly and sincerely.
My birthdays will never feel the same without her call, her prayers, and her heartfelt wishes. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that she rests peacefully in the bosom of the Lord she loved and served so faithfully.
May her soul find gentle and eternal repose.
Rest in peace, *Original J.J.* You will be forever missed and remembered.
A lot of my earliest childhood memories are from when my brother and I lived with her in Kaneshie. She would also come to the visit when we moved back to the UK. She took such good care of us, made the best tasting meals, dressed us well, and did my hair beautifully. My early passport photo looks are all courtesy of Grandma Jo - the black and white photo under-appreciating the talcum powder on my face. She also was very well kept herself. She wanted everyone to equally look their best - If I ever tried to go out without wearing earrings she would speak to me about the crime I was about to commit.
She was gentle but firm when bringing us up - I don’t remember her ever raising her voice or needing to use physical punishment. She had been the same with my mum and her siblings which always amazed me as this didn’t necessarily cross over into the next generation :-)
She was also a staunch Catholic and some of my earliest memories are also kneeling down with her at home in Kaneshie where she taught us how to pray. Hers was the first home I knew to have its own altar. She would always say the Rosary at 3pm sharp at the altar followed by Divine Mercy. I used to call her the female Pope. When I went to church with her she would explain the significance of different parts of the mass so I understood. She would quiz us on the rosary/other topics and say, “correct for 1000 points” so we were all collecting millions of points over her lifetime. She was always giving me special prayers for various intentions. She instilled in us good Christian values and we all had good home training.
Her house was also one of laughter as another of her roles was being a comedian and she always made me laugh. She loved to get updates on how everyone was doing and would always ask for the apor. In June 2018 she infamously got what’s app on her phone and she was so adept at using her phone to message and call me even though she was 78 at the time. In more recent years she would send me pictures of her posing in her Sunday church outfits always looking very glamorous. She also looked very youthful which she put down to her devoted use of oil of ulay that I would bulk buy for her from the UK.
A lot of who I am is because of her and it has been a blessing. Coming to Ghana will never be the same again. Rest in peace Grandma.
My Birthday Twin!
Some of my earliest memories are of when Laura and I came to live with you at Kaneshie whilst Mum and Dad moved house.
You made sure the medics stitched my cut forehead properly. I remember the calm authority you spoke with.
From afar we always felt, and benefitted from your love and powerful prayers. When near, the Whitehouse was a place of love and familiarity.
You were a Black Stars expert and I only recently found out you played football yourself. So much I did not know and will not be able to ask you now.
To be a mother, grandmother and great grandmother is a huge blessing and I am forever grateful you met Natasha and Gabriel when we visited in September 2023.
I thank God for your life, and the life and example you have given us.
The Original JJ, what a beautiful long life you have lived and shared with us. I will always remember you for your shining sense of humour and constant jokes. A visit to Kaneshie to see you was always guaranteed a belly full of laughter. This same sense of humour and playfulness we see in mummy, her siblings and us as grandchildren.
As the matriarch of our family you were gentle in character and a woman of great faith and prayers. Thank you for teaching us the importance of Christian faith and morals whilst keeping us in your prayers.
You were always keen to check in on my love life by asking me coded questions such as “Is there anybody online?” which would make me laugh. Unfortunately you couldn’t hold on to wait and meet Christian but I was happy that you got to speak to him on the day we got engaged and wish us well. Your extensive questionnaire still awaits him!
I will miss visiting you and hearing stories about your life when you were younger whilst you showed us photos which was our window into life before we were born. I cherished seeing the black and white photos which were like a time capsule, giving me that glimpse into our family’s history.
As a young child I always looked forward to visiting you and tasting your perfect okro stew and banku with mouthwatering pieces of fish and crab. Who will now make this for me the JJ way?
I thank God for your life Grandma, may your soul rest in perfect peace. I look forward to the day we shall meet again.
Yours always, Annie ♥️ xxx
Auntie Jo was a godly woman who touched the lives of many people.
Auntie Jo and her husband, Uncle Robert, were matchmakers for my parents. So my siblings, Rita, Raymond, and I owe our very existence to them. In addition, she changed the lives of my siblings and me in ways she could and would never have imagined.
I spent my most important and formative childhood years eagerly looking forward to my vacations with Auntie Jo and her family in Accra. And when I say eagerly, I mean it sincerely; the days could not pass by fast enough until my next visit with them. Auntie Jo was cool. Her husband, Uncle Robert, was cool. Their four kids, my cousins, were cool. Though I was their much younger cousin, and our age differences ranged from four to nine years, my cool teenage cousins opened their world to me. They even took me along when visiting their friends. Oh, what an experience that was. Auntie Jo was also a mother extraordinaire. Even as a young kid between nine and thirteen years old, I couldn’t help but admire how she handled her home and her four teenage children. When I became a parent myself, I appreciated her methods even more.
Ada, spoken by folks from Ada (Ghana), is one of the dialects of the Dangme (Adangme, Dangbe) language. 'Tsa pi kɔlor' is a sentence in the Ada dialect. How could I forget those words? I heard that sentence so many times during my vacations with Auntie Jo that they are etched on my brain. She did not utter those words; her four kids did, often in response to a query from her about something one of them had done or should not have done. When she received that answer, she did not raise her voice or try to argue with her kids to prove her point or to tell them she was right. Of course, my cousins should have known Auntie Jo knew what the truth was, but kids being kids, they must have thought they were being 'slick'. In 2024, I asked a friend what 'Tsa pi kɔlor' meant, and I was told “not like that” or “not that one”. Of course, to my cousins, the name of the game must have been "admit nothing."
Auntie Jo's strong faith saw her through two major personal tragedies. Any one of those tragedies would have broken any spouse or parent, but not Auntie Jo. She was a resilient, godly woman. She did not ask, "Why me?" because she knew it was part of God's plan for her. In another of God‘s perfect plans, he has decided Auntie Jo had completed all her earthly duties and that now was the time to take her home. Auntie Jo may be gone from this world, but her good works and impact on others' lives live on.
Auntie Jo was a good woman.
I listen to your surprise messages now & again, “ pray at all times, no shaky shaky! God is in control!”
A mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and Auntie to so many, You were an encourager, a prayer champion who instilled so much joy and hope. What a role model; the list goes on.
Heaven just gained an Angel.
Your legacy lives on!
Fare thee well Auntie Jo,
Rest in perfect peace and rise in glory.🌷
I never believed I will be writing your tribute this early but I know you have fought the good fight of Faith, you have run your race and you have kept the Faith.
You have fulfilled your assignment on earth with all diligence becoming a mother to "many" even though you were primarily given to your family. Words really fail me to capture a befiting tribute because who you were to me is beyond the cognitive understanding.
You were to me both a Mother and Father with your unconditional love which will forever stick with me and I will tell generations to come about you. You were there for me when I needed love the most and was vulnerable. You encouraged me daily in the Lord and prayed earnestly for me.
One thing about your life that imparted me the most is your unwavering Faith in the Lord Jesus. When I was young you helped me build my Faith and in your latter years I used this same Faith I had built to encourage you whenever you were not feeling well or down and I am so grateful for your love. On the day of your departure you held on to your Faith without Fear even prophecying to the Nurse and Naomi that you are going to Jesus so if they had a prayer request they should give it to you so that you will hand it over to Jesus. Little did we know you knew that you were leaving us for glory.
I have alot to say but for brevity I will try to control the flow of my thoughts as I write. As a little boy I will tell you about seeing angels and Jesus and you will interpret my dreams for me not knowing I was born a Prophet of God. You helped me nurture my love for God and shaped my life with your earnest intercession even in the past when I was going wayward in life but today I have found grace with God and I am independent and can stand to fight my battles, because you showed me the way of the alter of prayer.
I admired how you made the burdens of others your own and did not rest till you had a solution. I say this, if you left years ago I would been broken without repair but you even told me in a vision you were leaving when you said "Are we not yet at the gate?" And I was confused and you replied you "Can't you see that I am growing old", then I knew your time was near. Thank you for informing me about your exit ahead of time so I prepared my heart and mind for your rest in the bosom of the Lord.
I console my heart with 2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. I thank God you knew the Lord and were saved so your absence from the body is an assurance that you are in glory and eternal rest.
Rest well Grandma Jo 💚🙏🏿
I'm grateful for the countless memories you shared with me. I came to you as a worker but you took me as your granddaughter. You told me almost all your secrets you had in life. All of these are relevant to me.The most important thing you have ever repeatedly said is to forgive when someone has offended you. Just forgive the person and let it go. If you don't forgive, your heavenly father (God) would also not give you your sins and to always love one another.
You taught me how a woman should live a decent life and that she must always cover her head so that you will not miss the blessings of God.
I will never forget the time we prepared Kaawiku together and you were gisting, giving me an (appor). Your love and guidance have shaped me today.
I admire your strength,wisdom, kindness, and the heart you have for God.
You always found a way to solve peoples problems. You are a problem solver and a woman of virtue.
Thank you for being such an amazing grandma to me and accepting me as part of the family.
You will forever be in my heart 💙.
Let us hold close the words of the Apostle John: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). Today, as we gather, our hearts are tender, yet we are not a people without hope. As Theresians women of faith, bonded in spirit across the world we know the promise of resurrection. Our sorrow is woven together with a radiant hope, assured that those who die in the Lord shall rise again to eternal joy.
Today, we remember and celebrate Sister Josephine Johnson not only as a precious founding member of Theresians International, but as the heart and memory of this ministry. Her journey with us was a living history, her faithfulness a glowing flame lighting our path. She was not just there at the beginning she was the very spirit of endurance, guidance, and gentle leadership, reminding us who we are and why we serve.
When our sisters from Accra Christ the King last visited Sister Josephine, she welcomed them as a mother welcomes her beloved children sharing stories, weaving laughter, and filling the room with memories and hope. Perhaps you can imagine her eyes sparkling as she recounted our early days the struggles, the victories, the seeds of faith sown and watered with tears and prayers. Her gift was to make each sister feel known, cherished, and part of something holy.
Who, then, is a Theresian?
A Theresian is a woman young or old, married or single, vowed or searching with a heart thirsting for God, seeking to grow not alone, but in sacred sisterhood. We receive and give mutual encouragement, compassion, and affirmation. In a world so often divided, we are women united, reaching out with the boundless love of the Gospel.
Our hope is simple, yet profound: that we would become, in our own small ways, saints for today. That we would be transformed by the Holy Spirit imbued with love, peace, patience, kindness and that our lives would shine with the beauty of Christ, drawing others to our loving Saviour.
We do this, not by accident, but by intention, through five dimensions of holy living:
1. Spirituality; meeting God in prayer, Scripture, and sharing faith from the soul’s depths.
2. Vocation; living as disciples, radiating Christ’s light in our daily, ordinary lives.
3. Community; gathering each month to lift one another up, to share burdens and blessings, to kindle holiness.
4. Education; seeking wisdom that grows us toward spiritual maturity.
5. Ministry; serving with hands and hearts full of love, compassion, empathy, and the unique tenderness of women.
Membership is open to every woman who aspires to be a model Christian who seeks not perfection, but authenticity and love. Our communities are small, but our reach, global.
Our beloved Sister Josephine was the living embodiment of these ideals. She was present always at meetings, at outreaches, at every corner where need and hope met. She wore many hats Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer but her true gifts were those she poured out quietly, in laughter and service, in words of wisdom, in the joy she brought even from her home when she was no longer able to go out. Who among us has not been uplifted by her secret phone calls her disguised voice, her laughter, her joy at making others smile?
Josephine’s heart was especially moved for the forgotten. At the Borstal Institute, she would interpret homilies into Ga so that every ear and every heart could receive God’s word. She poured herself into our Christmas and Easter gifts for the inmates making sure love reached even those behind bars.
Through all these, Josephine’s spirit shone bright a beacon of wisdom, humour, and love. Even when her body grew weak, her soul grew only stronger. She made every meeting lighter, every gathering brighter.
For this, for all this, the Accra Archdiocese Theresians International honoured her as “Woman of Wisdom.” And wisdom she gave us, not only in words, but in the radiant, loving way she lived.
Dearest Sister Josephine, rest now in the tender bosom of our God. Your laughter will ring in heaven. Your wisdom will guide us on. We will remember. We will hope. We will love, as you taught us.
Eternal rest grant unto you, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon you. Rest in peace, beloved sister.
Amen.
You are always on my mind, and today was no exception. Yesterday, the day before and every day in between, I think of you in silence and often speak your name. Your memory is my keepsake; one I will hold close forever.
We have travelled together on life’s journey, 70 years and counting. Sharing lots of happy times and sometimes shedding tears. Keeping each other company, always leaning on each other through the years.
My heart broke since the day you left and though time has passed, the ache remains. The memories I treasure dearly are in the tears that still flow. So I am sending this message is sent to heaven where the angels will surely wrap you in love and care and give you all my love.
I miss you more than words can say, yet within my heart I feel your presence always cracking jokes with your irrepressible sense of humor.
“Sis Johns” thank you for all the precious times we spent together. Thank you for being my “twin” at St Anthony’s Guild. Thank you for all the fun times we had travelling together. Thank you for all the birthday lunch celebrations. Above all thank you for being my prayer partner in all the seasons of my life.
I have been blessed to have you as my sister and my dearest friend.
Rest in perfect peace my dear “Sister Johns”, till we meet again.
I first met her as a little girl in Lomé, living with my family in her home. She embraced me as one of her own children and we did a lot together. By God’s design, our bond only deepened after my marriage to my late husband, Victor — her grandnephew.
I fondly called her Youngi because she wore her years so lightly, and she nicknamed me "my secretary" because I often doubled as her reliable go-between. I will always cherish the lighthearted moments we shared during our visits, as she loved to sprinkle conversations with so much humor and wit.
I learnt a great deal from her, but one piece of counsel she offered that still sticks with me is to "live beyond circumstances". Her faith was unshaken, and lived out powerfully. She made sure our family was always covered in prayer, never failing to share prayer materials and encouragement with us. We are thankful for the gift of time we had with her. She is gone now from our sight but never our memories, gone from our touch but never our hearts.
Mrs. Johnson, you have left this world, but you live on with the Lord, and in the legacy of faith and love you sowed in us.
Rest peacefully.
So many words to say but I don’t know where to start from. I never thought someone as talkative as me would be speechless.
Oh Josephine Johnson, the woman that you were!
Always telling me stories about your heavenly apparitions and reiterating the importance of loving and worshipping God.
A Godmother indeed.. the best one could ask for. You played your role so well.. telling me to listen out to the “call” and answer it in case it came. Always calling me on my birthday to pray for me.
Texting me randomly and asking for the Dangbe name for Apapransa..
You were so excited when you found out I’d be going to Ridge Hospital for my sixth year rotation. You’d always ask me how the anatomy and physiology were going anytime we met.
The first thing you’d ask me when you saw me was about the mysteries of the rosary and Catholic prayers. And anytime I fumbled, you’d give me reading assignments.
You played a major role in making me love the Catholic Church.
The “Apor” woman was what all the Catholic priests called you cause you always had new information about God and the Bible for them.
You were always praying for me, checking up on me , sending me chocolate cake and random gifts and jewelry.. you treated me like your favorite grandchild.
Oh Grandma J.J.. the Original J.J.. I don’t know how to feel about your passing. I’m deeply saddened because you represented longevity and immortality and your passing has just given me a big reality check.
At the same time, 94 years on this earth is no joke. And you walked that walk proudly and admirably, with your gentle and kind heart. I’m grateful God granted you life for that long and I’m grateful I got the chance to meet you.
To a life well lived, Mrs. Josephine Johnson 🥂. I love you always.🤍
Your goddaughter,
Kim.
A true soldier of Our Lord and Our Lady. I will miss you and at this point I give thanks to God for making you an aunt I could emulate. Love you, rest in peace 💖
Together we prayed rosary,chaplet of st Charbel,divine Mercy at Christ the King Grotto.we belonged to The Jesus Mary Joseph prayer Group
Sometimes we had all night vigils in her house in honour of st Charbel and also in Our Two Hearts Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart Cenacles.
Auntie Joe loved jokes and will always make you laughed
She always had a cup of tea made whenever I called on her at home
My daughter Manuela 's birthday was 15th October,just 5 days before hers,so she made it a point to always give her a gift on her birthday.
Manuela joined auntie Joe in her car with her grandson to st Theresa's school,north kaneshie.I am forever grateful.
My cousin Ewurasi Francesca Akosa's son,Naasei, married auntie Joe's grand daughter Nickie a few years ago in Accra,and she said,''we have been friends for so long,now we have become family'
Eternal rest grant to her O Lord and Let perpetual light shine on her
Burial Service Information
We will come together in Mass to honour and remember our beloved Ma/Auntie Joe/Sister Joe. As we mourn her passing, we also give thanks for her life, her faith, and the love she shared with all who knew her. In the spirit of Christian hope, we entrust her soul to God’s eternal care and find comfort in the promise of resurrection.
Your presence would mean a great deal to us during this sacred time of remembrance, prayer, and reflection.
For those unable to make the event in person, we invite you to join us online by using the link below to the online livestream.
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