In Memory of Odette Bilolo
In Memory of Odette Bilolo
Odette Bilolo
Spouse: Richard Bilolo
Children: Celeste, Wanju, Gaju, Victor
Birthdate: January 4, 1966
Blessing: 30,000 Couples
Odette Bilolo was born on January 4th, 1966, in a small village called Kananira, in the Eastern Congo, previously called Zaire. She was the last born of 11 children, 4 boys, and 7 girls.
After finishing middle school in the village, Odette joined her older sister Justine Cherutich and older brother Theo Katigaya in the city of Mbuji-Mayi where they lived and went to school. In the village, the middle school was as far as one could go for education.
One of their oldest brothers, Nzarama Katigaya brought them from the village to the city of Mbuji-Mayi, where he lived so that they could continue their studies; he financially supported them.
In 1983, Justine Cherutich joined the unification church and moved to Kinshasa in 1987. She invited Odette to visit her in Kinshasa. She came in 1991. By then Odette was so sad for her sister leaving them and joining an unknown church. Even though her family had not been religious, as far as they were culturally concerned, joining the predominant catholic church was more acceptable, more dignified for a young lady.
Odette came to visit her sister with the intention to convince her to leave and come back home. After listening to a few lectures of the unification church teachings, she joined the church as well. Soon after, her brother Theo came to visit and ended up joining the church as well.
In 1992, Odette was Blessed in marriage to Richard Bilolo as part of the 30,000 Couples Blessing. They were introduced to each other by Rev Moon, who suggested that they complimented each other well as a couple. They started their family life in Kinshasa in 1996. In 1997, their first child Celeste was born and the twins, Wanju and Gaju were born in 1998. Their youngest, Victor Bilolo was born in Maine, in 2004
Odette came to the US in 2000. In 1999, ethnic cleansing propaganda started in Kinshasa where Odette lived. Her husband had just gone to South Africa. The ethnic cleansing targeted the Tutsi tribe to which Odette belonged and had reached its climax. They were going house to house, looking for Tutsis to hatch with whichever weapon they could find. Odette stayed in hiding with her in-laws for about a year, not knowing if she will live, meanwhile carrying for her 3 babies. The international community was aware of the ethnic cleansing that was happening and started planning to rescue those they could. A church brother of a different tribe, whose wife was also a Tutsi helped Odette to get papers that allowed her to register in the refugee camp, set up by the UN in Kinshasa for those they were able to rescue. From there, they were sent to a transit camp in Cameroun from where they were resettled in different nations. Odette was resettled in the US and arrived in 2000, in Michigan where her older sister Justine lived at the time.
Odette was the best daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend anyone will wish to have had. She was the most beautiful, wholehearted, and the kind person everyone will want to meet. She was a very special human being and she is deeply missed and will always be
Odette is survived by her husband Richard Bilolo and 4 children: Celeste, Wanju, Gaju, and Victor Bilolo. She is also survived by 4 siblings: Nzamukosha, Kamali, Justine, and Theo. Odette lived and breathed for her children. They were her world. They were all very close to their mother and they all know how much she loved them.
