Ngozi C. Okorafor

Ngozi Chijioke Okorafor was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Ok, let us stop. We know we're supposed to write this dried out solemn summary of Ngozi's life, but it is utterly impossible to summarize and condense the Life and Times of Ngozi Okorafor. From the beginning, Ngozi shined.

She was the first one of us four siblings to win a trophy…she wanted that piece of plastic, metal, wood and honor. And that first trophy was far from the last. She must have won over a hundred trophies, plaques and medals over the years in areas from academics to theater to activism to social contributions to sports. The largest trophy she won was the one for State Champion in tennis (both in her category of doubles and for the entire team) her junior year of high school.

Driven, disciplined, and ambitious with a zest for life, Ngozi grew up sure that she was going to be President of the United States of America. She'd sing that annoying Olive Oyl song from the Popeye cartoon, "If I Were President", aggravating all of us with her confidence and self-proclaimed entitlement to the top political position in the country. Yes, she was sure she could run the country better than anyone…until she saw on the news that President Ronald Reagan had been shot. Turns out the job of president was more than a little dangerous. And so she altered her plans, but not that much. She still wanted to be in a position to lead, speak, make change and influence.

Ngozi went on to earn her BA at Yale University, then she attended the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) for her Juris Doctorate. She used these to pursue an intense legal career that spanned decades covering the public, private and non-profit sectors. She cut her teeth at various top large Chicago law firms first. Then later, she served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Her final position was as the Director of Employment Actions for the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

This is all just the tip of the iceberg with Ngozi. Her list of accolades and awards is too extensive to contain here. She was president of the BWLA (Black Women Lawyers' Association). She was listed as one of "Illinois' 40 Attorneys Under 40 to Watch". She was a 2020 Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award Honoree. She worked under Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. She did so much.

And through it all, Ngozi was a mother to an amazing son named Chinedu and a partner to her best friend Eric Raila. Her love was big and warm and she extended it like sunshine to her nieces (Anyaugo and Obioma) and nephew (Dika). Despite her hectic schedule, she always had time to make sure that they were on the right path.

She was a daughter, sister, activist, humanist, and so much more. Ngozi was nonstop and she practiced what she preached. A bringer of joy, energy and light. She was the individual who everyone would gravitate toward the moment she entered a room. You would hear her clear booming voice before you saw her. Whenever we went to parties, we always made sure Ngozi walked in first.

We could list those next of kin she has left behind, but really, she leaves us all behind in her wake. We like to think that now she's absolutely soaring.

Sincerely and with Love,

Dr. Ifeoma Okorafor

Dr. Nnedi Okorafor

Emezie Okorafor, JD

"A young woman, standing on the shore, looks out into an immense azure sea rimmed with the silver line of the horizon. She looks out into the obscure heart of destiny, and is overwhelmed by a feeling both dark and oddly joyful. She may be thinking something like this: 'My soul looks forward and wonders- just how am I going to get across.' That is beyond."

–Ben Okri, Nigerian writer.

TO VIEW THE LIVESTREAM OF MASS AT INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE CHURCH AT 11:00 A.M., PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

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TO VIEW THE RECORDING OF THE MEMORIAL AT TEWS-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

https://youtu.be/DZx7nMJarpU