Sister Naida Njoku
Photo
Naida's obituary
A Life of Healing, Courage, and Cultural Harmony
Naida N. Njoku:
December 4, 1933 – April 1, 2026
Naida N. Njoku, a pioneering nurse, decorated educator, and dedicated community leader, peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the age of 92. Her passing on March 14, 2026. Throughout her ninety-plus years, Naida’s life was defined by the motto she lived: "Love Connects Us All."
Early Life and Education
Born in Harlem, New York, Naida was the daughter of the late Aston W. Nelson, originally of Jamaica, and Veronica Nelson of Baltimore. She was raised with a deep appreciation for her diverse heritage, which would later fuel her passion for global travel and cultural education.
Naida’s academic pursuit was relentless. She graduated from New York’s Cathedral High School and the Bellevue Nursing School before earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from St. John's University in 1958. Her commitment to excellence continued throughout her life, leading her to earn a Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1976 and a Master of Education (M. Ed.) in Nursing from Columbia University in 1978.
A Career of Global Service
Before her departure for Africa, Naida established herself as a leader in the American nursing field. She served as the Head Nurse in Medicine at Bellevue Hospital, an Industrial Nurse at Metropolitan Life Insurance, and a Public Health Nurse for Catholic schools in Brownsville, Brooklyn. She also held the positions of OB/GYN Supervisor at Unity Hospital and Instructor at Queens General Hospital.
In February 1961, Naida married Dr. John E. Njoku and moved to Nigeria. There, she served as a school nurse and teacher at Santa Maria in Enugu and as a Nursing Sister Instructor at St. Theresa’s Hospital in Nsukka, where she also supervised vital traveling pre-natal clinics.
Military Service and the Nigerian Civil War
During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), Naida served with extraordinary bravery as a Nursing Sister Instructor and Army Nurse at Holy Rosary Hospital in Emekuku, working alongside the Irish Holy Rosary Nuns. She provided frontline medical care to the wounded, removed shrapnel and bullets, and treated cases of shell shock while simultaneously educating student nurses on pediatric care and communicable diseases.
Following the war, she returned to the United States and continued her leadership as the Supervisor of Ambulatory Care Clinics and Emergency at Gouverneur’s Hospital in New York. She retired from the nursing profession in 1995.
The Maria Rose International Doll Museum
In her retirement, Naida transformed a lifelong passion for doll collecting into a mission for peace. Though she lost her original collection of 28 dolls (carried to Nigeria in a "Red Hat Box") during the Civil War, she was inspired by Sister Gabriel Mary to begin again.
On October 5, 2007, she formally opened The Maria Rose International Doll Museum and Cultural Center in St. Albans, NY. The museum was designed to promote ethnic diversity and cross-cultural respect. Naida famously issued "miniature imitation American Passports" to children, encouraging them to "travel" through the museum's exhibits to learn about the world's cultures. Her work was featured on Q.P. TV and exhibited at the Saint Albans Community Library.
Faith and Community Recognition
A woman of deep spiritual conviction, Naida served for many years as a Eucharistic Minister and Lecturer at St. Bonaventure/St. Benedict The Moor R.C. Church. In her later years, she found a new spiritual home, being baptized at Victory Fellowship Worship Center of SDA on September 21, 2024, and formally received into the First Rosedale Seventh-day Adventist Church on October 19, 2024.
Her community service was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the African-American/Caribbean Education Association, honoring her "Friendship and Service to the Community."
Family and Legacy
Naida was the beloved wife of the late Dr. John E. Njoku (1930–2013). Together, they celebrated over 50 years of marriage. Naida traveled the world extensively, visiting Canada, Europe, Jamaica, Egypt, Israel, and beyond. She is survived by her son Michael, a cousin Caroline and family, in-laws from the late husband Dr. John E. Njoku and other relatives, and a community that was profoundly touched by her compassion and vision.
Funeral and Interment Information
Arrangements are being handled by:J Foster Phillips Funeral Home Inc. 179-24 Linden Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11434. Phone: (718) 526-5656.
Naida will be interred at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY (Section 049, Grave 1125), joining her husband, Dr. John Njoku, in the family plot.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Send to someone
Want to stay updated?
Send flowers
Send flowers
Share this memorial website
Share with others
Donate in memory
