We Remember
ATTAKEY, Yayra
April 10, 1986 — September 4, 2024
Yayra Attakey passed away unexpectedly on September 4, 2024, in Kelowna, BC, at just 38 years old.
Born on April 10, 1986, in Shum, Ghana, to Prosper and Angelica (née Vida Gyamfuah) Attakey, Yayra was a warm and outgoing individual and an all-around nice guy. He was enthusiastic about biking, hiking, and travelling.
Finishing his MBA while working in social work, Yayra was dedicated to helping at-risk youth. A selfless and down-to-earth person, Yayra’s kindness and willingness to help others will be remembered. He will be deeply missed.
A Viewing, to pay last respects, will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME: 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. From 3:00pm to 5:00pm.
The Final Funeral Service will be held for him in Ghana “Ho-Kpenoe” on Saturday, 2nd of November 2024.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
Visitation
Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Springfield Funeral Home
(2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, )
Service
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Location
Ghana "Ho-Kpenoe"
Yayra was a good friend of mine. We met over three years ago while he was doing his MBA. I introduced him to some friends here in Kamloops, and I like to think over time we became a second family to him. In that time, he lived with me as a roommate for a year and spent Christmas and Thanksgiving with me and my family. I took him on hikes around the city, went on a few wine tours through Kelowna with him and our friends, took him ice fishing with my dad, and even tried to teach him how to ski at Sun Peaks resort. I am devastated, but even so, I can only imagine what you are going through, and I am so incredibly sorry. I hope that it is some comfort to know that while he was here, he had many friends who loved and cared for him. He had a vibrant and happy life here.
I am only able to send one photo using this platform, but if you want more, please reach out to me via email and I’ll send you everything I have.
My name is Brendan and I wanted to add my condolences to Adam’s note, as one of those many friends that Adam mentioned.
I first met Yayra as part of a trivia team that he regularly attended. I was struck immediately by his self-assurance, his amazing fashion sense (always), his wonderful laugh, the way he was always beginning sentences with, “The thing is…” and then holding forth on whatever that thing was.
He was one of the most generous people I’ve ever met, not only through cooking for all of us, but in checking in when things were rough. More than his home, he was generous with his time. I’ll never forget when he had us all over for dinner the first time and was so considerate as the make me a separate vegetarian dish because I don’t eat meat. But then of course he did this with the broth from the goat dish he’d made, and full chunks of meat in the rice, but “just for flavor” he assured me, and he’d been so kind, and so hilariously lax with what it meant to not eat meat that of course I ate it. And was thankful. And was charmed. Because that’s another thing that he had in spades, and that I’m going to miss, along with his many and evolving plans.
It’s been hard to make sense of this and why someone so full of life should be taken so young. I’m going to miss him very much, alongside his many friends, and I’m so sorry for your loss as a family.
As a member of the Mawuli School 2003 Year Group, Yayra was a one of the pillars behind our numerous and consistent donations to help uplift the image of the school. Even in his absence from Ghana, he made his presence felt everytime there was a a need to raise funds for a project. Anytime a contributor’s list is uploaded, you’d see one particular person whose name consistently and constantly appearing as anonymous. Then you’ll know it was him. It is heartbreaking that such a kind, gentle and thoughtful soul with the level of empathy he had towards his fellow man will be taken from us this way and in such painful circumstances. Many of us admired you from afar. Omsu 03 has lost a pillar. A vacuum that may never be filled. If we are feeling this way, i wonder the heartache his family is going through. Trust me, i know, having just buried a sister a week ago. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Grieve your son,
Omsu 03, grieve our brother.
Rest in Peace Brother
Hede nyuie l3 nutifafa m3.
The Yayra I remember back in High School was calm, soft spoken and a serious student. The news of his death was a shock to me. I am yet to come to terms with the reality of his death. Yayra may your gentle soul rest eternally and I pray for strength for the family at this difficult time.
Yayra was a kind, gentle, wise soul who radiated positivity and was a joy to work with. He was always willing to help others and he will be dearly missed by all of us at our office. I will remember him fondly.
I echo the sentiments that have been shared before mine. Yayra was (I can’t believe I am speaking about him in the past tense) such a sweet person. Always willing to lend a helping hand. We were in several courses of the MBA together, and he was always a great team member, and an even better friend. To his family and friends, weep if you must, but treasure the wonderful memories of the great person he was. Rest in peace Yayra, until we meet again 🙏.
Yayra was a kind, generous, thoughtful and compassionate person who put others first. He is a “salt of the earth” person who is missed; never to be forgotten. Condolences to the Attakey family as you grieve the loss of a beautiful soul.
I was reading the letter forwarded by Edwin Afekey to Trinity Baptist Church regarding Yayra’s death, when I noticed Yayra’s birth date and burst into tears. It was the exact same date of birth as my son, Jesse. My son also died suddenly nearly 3-1/2 years ago. Though I did not know Yayra personally, I have learned that there is no greater grief than from the loss of a child. I pray that God will provide for all of your needs in bringing Yayra home and that He will grant you great peace. I am so sorry for your loss.
Hello Yayra! “Ruth m3fre3 wo back” ( I will call you back ) all because he knows I am gonna bug him so he will return my call when he is less busy, which he always call me back and we talk at length.
I met Yayra in Kamloops when he visited me 3 days after my surgery. I had heard so much good stuff about him already but I had never had the chance to interact with him until he came to visit me in my home. It was at that instant that he disclosed to me that he knows me because he ate my jollof rice when he came to David’s party. I remember I was the caterer for the day and I got tired to the extent that I was not able to pay attention to everyone.
On the day Yayra visited me, he spent more than an hour with us and he kept on talking about my jollof and suggested we set up a joint business by opening an African restaurant in Kamloops. I said…..??🤔 meaning I wasn’t straight forward at that moment all because I was in so much pain form the surgery.
Yayra called me and said Ruth, I am coming take you and Roy for a drive outside Kamloops one Sunday afternoon. He came around and took us to TOBIANO for the first time just to go for sight seeing and take pictures.
Yayra picked me up from the TCC pool when my Kami cab was delayed. On our way home, through our conversation, he thought me the tricks I can use to pass my BC divers knowledge test because he failed in his first attempt and didn’t want me to go through that stress. His trick helped me and I passed my test with the first attempt. He went to Salmon Arm after he failed his road test in Kamloops. He passed his road test and obtained his BC class 5 driver’s license and told me that he will take me Salmon Arm and teach me how to drive on their roads. Yayra 😭 and Kezia took me there and we drove around this small town as he promised. After a while, we went to a groceries store and sat down to talk about our lives and some future plans. Yayra told us that, he is not getting his dream jobs in Kamloops because it’s been too slow and employers are not hiring at a fast pace.
He didn’t mention that he has plan of leaving us here in Kamloops, untill he called on phone and told me that he’s relocating to Toronto. I didn’t agree with him because I didn’t want him to relocate. So he told me that he will have to do another road test for his driver’s license since it’s a different province.
After some weeks, I called Yayra to check up on him only for him to tell me he’s in Kelowna because he has secured himself a job with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). I was so exhilarated because he made me super proud.
I called Yayra and told him that I needed to write CELPIP exam and Kelowna is my exam siting center so he has to drive and pick me from the bus terminal and take me to Okanagen College when I get to Kelowna and he agreed to help right away.
The countless help Yayra showed to me was beyond my expectations but it’s so unfortunate that death has taken him away from us. Yayra bought chocolate not just for me but also for OJ when it’s our birthday.
Yayra went to Europe and gifted me a beautiful bag he brought from his trip, I carried that bag when I went for my baptism. There are lots of priceless memories that time will not permit me to recall.
On September 4th, my job took me to TOBIANO and the thoughts of Yayra came on my mind, so I decided to give him a call when I am off from work.
At lunch time, I had a call from OJ and she told me that Yayra was no more. I didn’t believe the news, so I hanged up and called his cellphone, it went through voicemail and I heard his voice mail greetings asking me to leave a message. Since then, I have been calling his cell every day hoping that a MIRACLE will happen and he will pick up his phone and talk to me.
Yayra 😭 rest well! I called your cell again before I posted my condolences but you didn’t answer. Your phone calls have been going through voicemail and all I hear is your voice on the other side of the phone asking me to leave a message.
May your beautiful soul be guided by the angels of God.
🙏🏾Rest well in the Lord, Yayra🙏🏽
I was so lucky to have met and work with Yayra for the last year and 5 months. We also socialized outside of work with others and always shared a good laugh. We even got to meet his cousin that came to Canada for a visit too. He was truly a special person, so kind, thoughtful and generous. He was so genuine and cared for others deeply. Truly a good person to the core. I just can’t say enough good things about him. He will be dearly missed. I send heartfelt condolences to his family and please know you raised a beautiful and wonderful man.
I met Yayra back in 2012 at a job interview at Gtbank. We all joined the bank in 2013 and became close friends when we worked at the same branch. Yayra was a brother to me. A kind person who is always willing to go the extra mile for you. That friend that you know will show up for you no matter the hour of day when you need him. It’s very sad that you left us so soon. Thank you for being a brother to me and my family. My deepest condolences to the family and may God strengthen you during this difficult time. Till we meet again my brother…