Rebecca Benda Kamara began her journey here, on earth, on January 15, 1946. She was born to Charles and Eliza Wah in Liberia, Maryland County, in the Pleebo District. She was the youngest of three children including: The Late Samuel Wah, and Grace Wah Batu. In 1954, at the age of 8, after Rebecca's mother passed away, she was taken by her older sister Grace, to live with Richard and Louise McIntosh, along with their five children in Cape Palmas. She was raised by the McIntosh family as though she were their very own. Although she had yet to learn English, she bonded with the youngest of the five children, Araminta; and their sisterhood proved to be an unbreakable bond for the next 64 years of her life.
In the year 1968, Rebecca graduated from Cape Palmas High School, in Haper City, Maryland County. She then moved to Yekepa, where she was employed by the Catholic Establishment to teach Kindergarten. It was during this time she met her husband: The Late Edward Kamara. The two married in 1969 and soon after, had three children together: Edward, Alexander and Tenneh. Rebecca also raised three other children as her own: Josephine, Bobby and Foday.
Before Liberia's Civil War, in 1987, Rebecca migrated to the United States, to provide a better life for her family. She became a CNA, and before the time of her death was employed by Oak Hill Nursing Home, in Rhode Island, where she worked for over ten years. She was also a teacher at Home Away From Home Family Childcare (her sister, Araminta's Daycare).
Rebecca was called home on the second evening of Spring, March 22, 2019. She spent her last days surrounded by the love of her family and friends.
Rebecca was affectionately called Aunty Becky by all who loved her. She had a hilarious sense of humor. She had a strong love of African music. She was easily the life of any family gathering when she displayed her show stopping dance moves. Rebecca was an amazing story teller. She painted pictures with words. She was kind. She was beautiful- inside and out. She will be sorely missed.
Though her physical presence will be missed, Rebecca has blessed the lives of those she knew with many fond memories to keep her spirit alive.
She leaves to mourn: Her children and grandson: Edward, Alexander, Tenneh, Josephine, Bobby, Foday, and Telvin. Her siblings: Araminta, Richard, Samuel, Augustus, Elizabeth and Grace. Her Nieces and Nephews: Christian, Yvette, Wynston, Wynnel, Gary, George, Elke, Gloria, Alfonzo, Marquis, Chase, Nwane, Tee'Aire, Ja'Den, Janell.
May God bless and keep her.
Relatives and friends are invited to visitation on Saturday, April 13th from 9:30 - 11:00 A.M. at Keefe Funeral Home, Five Higginson Ave., Lincoln, R.I., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow in Swan Point Cemetery, 585 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI.