A doctor and his care home director wife died from coronavirus just 10-days apart, MailOnline can reveal.
Dr James Oniah, a retired radiologist, succumbed to Covid-19 on April 24 while Mary passed away from the virus on May 4.
They both died at King George Hospital in Ilford, East London leaving
behind three children as well as other family members and friends who
saw them as ‘mum and dad’.
Mrs Oniah, 61, is thought to have contracted Covid-19 during her job as a
Regional Director for a care home provider before her 79-year-old
husband was also struck down.
The couple, who had a son and two daughters, lived in Ilford.
Oke, 25, who still lives at home, told MailOnline that his mother and
father were ‘wonderful parents’ and that the family was still coming to
terms with their tragic deaths but said he didn't want to say anymore.
The couple’s niece Siobhan Livingstone added that her aunt and uncle had ‘truly touched the hearts of many, gone far too soon’.
A crowd-funding page has now been set up to raise money for a funeral.
According to a tribute on gofundme.com, James and Mary were a ‘loving, caring and welcoming couple’.
The heartfelt message continues: ‘It is believed Mary contracted
corona virus in her line of duty as a Regional Director in care homes,
and sadly her husband James, a former doctor (Radiologist) also
contracted the disease.
‘Mary was trained as a nurse, as well as a midwife at the University
Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka in Zambia. ‘They ended the fight for
their lives against COVID-19 at King George Hospital in London 10 days
apart, leaving behind children and a wider network of family and friends
who all considered them their mum and dad.’
Adding her thoughts, family friend Nila Patel said: ‘These two
people were very warm, loving and caring souls. They had an
unconditional love never to be forgotten. My deepest condolences to the
family.’
Dr Oniah worked in a string of hospitals as an agency radiologist but
had recently retired. He had studied at the University of Sussex after
setting up home in the UK from Onitsha in Nigeria.
Mrs Oniah had worked as a Regional Director
for a number of care homes since 2011 but since September 2017 had been
working for Maria Mallaband Care Group Limited.
She had studied nursing and midwifery at St Georges and Roehampton
University teaching Hospital in South London and palliative care nursing
at City, University of London.
Vicky Craddock, operations manager for Maria Mallaband Care Group
Limited said: ‘Mary was a valued colleague and friend to many people in
our company, she will be sorely missed. Our heartfelt sympathies go out
to her family at this difficult time.’
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Source: Daily Mail UK
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