You were a blessing to me. Continue to rest in peace Aunty Ursula

Dear Sister, I was shocked when I heard the news of your passing. My big sister, may your soul rest in peace. I will always remember your smile, your laughter (still rings in my ears).  I remember when you came to live with us in Nigeria, I was a young girl. I would follow you around the house, just looking at you and admiring you as my big sister (still admire you!). In my head then, I thought, how strong, ambitious and determined you were to have achieved all you had at the time. There are so many words to describe you - calm, kind, generous, thoughtful and resilient.  In a time and world when women were struggling to make it to the forefront, you were pioneering. Faced with all kinds of challenges that this world threw at you, you remained calm and collected, hopeful, bright, brave, bold and positive.  You taught me about those qualities.  Your poise, your elegance, your zeal to live, have fun and be at your best despite it all is remarkable. Sister, we didn't talk everyday or month but when we did, we could talk for hours and it would seem we just picked up from a last conversation the day before. That's because of the tie that binds us.  Sister, I thank God for your life. He blessed you and helped you to make your mark in this world as you touched the lives of so many people. I pray that those of us you've left behind especially the children, be comforted and may God's grace, mercy and peace be upon our lives. 

On behalf of Rtd. Lt.Col June Hotobah-During, She want to extend her deepest condolences to Chantel and siblings, the Cole and Hanciles family for the loss of Ursula. She was a  colleague, friend and a sister. We pray that God have mercy on her soul and may she Rest In Peace. 

As a child living with my aunty Rtd. Lt. Col June Hotobah-During (nee Adeola),  From Benguma Barracks to single female officers quarters at the Wilberforce Barracks,  Aunty Ursula was my aunt’s room mate and I was the only child living with them. Aunty Ursula and most of her squad mates played a great role in my upbringing one way or the other through by helping me with my studies or babysitting me if my aunt was not around.  Aunty Ursula was that quiet, soft-spoken and always smiling.  I remember at Benguma Barracks though I was very young that she and my aunt were plateau commanders for Burma platoon and Arakan  platoon and she was one but disciplined officer that became a mentor for so many other ranks female soldiers at their time.  So many fun memories of her from Military sport to Mayoung parade to watching me walking to school crying for a Chinese canvas shoe that I never liked and she will be one person that will say” “June de pikin nor lek dis Chinese shoe”.  

May your soul rest in heavenly peace  and may light perpetual shine on you. From

Theresa Johnson

My heartfelt sympathy to Chantel, Cleophas, and Claire for the loss of their beloved mom. Ursula, was very humble and witty.  She is definitely going to be missed. Take your rest Ursula.  May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Our hearts are with you, Cleo and Claire. So glad your Mom was able to enjoy Conor’s wedding celebration with us a few years ago. With much love, Joan and family

I was so sorry to hear about Ursula's passing. and demise as my Former Platoon Commander and a Senior Officer. She has done so much for us as members for Arakan Platoon. She did her best to turned us from young girls to matured women leaving Benguema Training Centre. You were a shining light amongst us. You were our shining stay when we made history that year to become one of the First Trained Female Combatant Soldiers 2979 Squad. Your smile always keeps on going. On behalf of all of us 1979 Squad and especially Members of Arakan Platoon we say Kudos. Rest in perfect peace Lt/Col Ursula Femi Hanciles nee Cole.  Your work on earth here is done and you have gone to joined your maker. Go well my Platoon Commander 

In loving memory of a brave and beautiful lady.
May your soul Rest In Peace.
🙏❤️ Anne-Grethe, Lars and Jim ❤️🙏

I am so sorry we lost Ursula, God will take care of the kids.

I'm so sorry for your loss Claire and family. If Ursula is anything like you, she must have been an amazing woman. Wishing you all peace and comfort with each other and wonderful memories.

With deepest sorrow, Pam Strode

Tribute to my Dear Friend Ursula

I got to know Ursula very well when we were at St Joseph's Secondary School, Freetown. I cant rememberexactlyhow or when we became friends. All I can say is that God brought us together and I feel blessed to have had her in my life.

Our friendship developed and we become very very close friends. We were so close , that " Frederick, Onike; aunty Iyamide; Uncle Abu; Aunty Olive and grandma Sanami to name a few , all became household names to me and I met them all over the years.

Moving on to the Albert Academy Secondary School (6th form) was another milestone in our life there ,we formed a lot of lasting friendships with so many wonderful people. Their the band of two ( Ursula & I) became three, with Olabisi Milton-Cole. Our friendship became rock solid as we journeyed through 6th form and made several new friends with both boys and girls of The Albert Academy.

Our next stop ( which was a pit stop) took us to the Prison's Headquarters where we worked temporarily and sometimes just didn't conform to the strict rules and regulations. By then Bisi had gone on to Barclays Bank leaving the two of us to continue our journey.

At Prison's Headquarters we were considered as rebels by our managers as for instance there were days that we would go on extended lunch breaks and because we were having such fun decide not to go back to the office. As we were young and only doing holiday job there we weren't bothered.

Ursula and I were inseparable then and little wonder that when the Armed Forces decided to recruit female cadets we both applied and were successful employed as part of a pioneering team of 14 who went to Benguema training Barracks.

Training at the military camp was ardeus but we survived it and later all went on to become full lieutenants.

Ursula and I laughed together, cried together and made future plans together.

Ursula being the lovingand caring person that she was always wanted a family of her own. Her wish came true when she married , then Major Modu Hanciles and had three lovely children.

Ursula was hard working and dedicated to her job in the Army. Sadly when the rebel war occurred, things changed and she relocated to the United States with her children where she lived until her death.

Ursula was a fun person to be with. A sincere and loyal friend . We would go for very long period witout talking on the phone but when we finalky did after each and every conversation she will say to me , " A Yvonne, we don laff nor to common, e nor tan lek for sae ee don tae wae we tok sef." It was so natural like continuing our conversation where we left off "yesterday". I was thinking of calling her to have our usual talk when I got news of her passing.

During her lifetime, Ursula was blessed with a loving family , relatives and friends in various countries. To all of you, particularly, Chantel, Claire, Cleophas, Frederick and her other siblings my deepest condolences.

They say that the quality of a person’s tale isn’t dependent on the amount of years in her life, but rather on the amount of life and love in her years. Which can be said for Ursula's life.

Death is often viewed as the end of a story

But Ursula's beautiful story will forever continue within our hearts and souls and those of everyone who knew my dear friend.

Ursula, Olafemi, Patricia, we wish you farewell in your journey to eternity. You'd never be forgotten, continue to rest in peace. Prayers and very fond memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed Femi. Sleep on and take your rest.

Yvonne (French) McEwen 

Dear Ozzy,

In less than a week from now, we will be meeting for the very last time. It will not be the type of dialogue we are used to having, but we’ll take comfort in the grace of having an opportunity to say good bye.

The sudden news of your passing brought my world to a standstill. I was left grappling for days on end with thoughts of what could have been done differently.

As nights turn to days, and days turned to nights, I finally accepted the painful reality that my trusted confidante and “plaba-mate” (fighting partner) was no more.

I will never see your face again, nor will I hear that unique laughter of yours. My comfort lies in continuing to remember you as though you were still here.

No music can replace the sweetness of your laughter, and no sunshine the brightness of your smile. You were blessed with a charisma that lit up the space of any room you entered.

You will be remembered for the uniqueness of your personality that left pleasant lasting impressions long after meeting with you. The grace of your sway and swag of your locomotion is a memory the world will continue to miss long after you are gone.

Your wittiness and sharpness of acumen made you the smartest and most delightful person to be around.

Just before the days dwindle down to hours, and hours shrink into minutes and seconds before our meeting, I would like to use this time and space to thank you for coming along on this journey of intrigues called life.

Olafemi,l miss your voice.l miss your laughter.l miss our long phone conversations.Gone but forever in our hearts.God knows why.Rest In the Lord,and wait patiently for him.