GOGO Emily Kubu asked her family to throw a party for her 92nd birthday, which was on 4 May.
Her daughter, grandchildren and relatives came to enjoy the party on 7 May.
But little did they know it was her way of saying her final goodbye.
Two days after her party, she died peacefully in her sleep.
She was buried on Saturday, 14 May, in Bekkersdal, near Randfontein.
Her only child, Matseko Botha (65), said her mum was happy at the party.
“Gogo’s two sisters and brother are all late, but gogo asked why they were not at her party,” she said.
“She was so happy and she wanted them to come. We kept saying they are coming.”
She said they never realised it was a sign.
“We never thought she might not be with us in a few days time,” she said.
Matseko said her mum inspired her to be clean and neat.
“She liked to look beautiful with makeup and liked beautiful clothes,” said Matseko.
“Even on her birthday, we did her make-up because she always wanted to look beautiful,” she said.
Neighbours said they had lost a good friend.
“She enjoyed cleaning her house and her yard. She was very humble,” said neighbour Kenosi Ratshefola.
Her grandson Thabo Kubu (43) said his grandma’s passing had left a void in their lives. “When I felt down, she would lift me up. She would always quote a verse from the Bible,” she said. and her favourite verse Jeremiah 39 which says look up to the mountain when life is tough
Emily was a member of the local St Mary Anglican Church.
A family friend, Father Ratsoeu (58), said gogo Emily was his mum’s friend and they loved rea€ ding the Bible together.
