Dr. Olufemi Oyetunji Okanlami died March 2, 2015.
He was born Jan. 30, 1955, in Ibadan, Nigeria, to Stephen Oyewole and Marian Moladun Okanlami. He was the first of six sons.
Dr. Okanlami attended Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo, Nigeria, and graduated from the University of Ibadan College of Medicine in 1981. He did his internship at Ife University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where he met his wife, Olubunmi Abosede Olutoye, and was married in 1982. They were blessed with two children, Olubunmi Oyepeju and Oluwaferanmi Oyedeji Okanlami. He began his training in Pediatrics and Neonatology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), prior to relocating to the United States for further training at Howard University and Georgetown University Hospitals in Washington, D.C. Most of his professional career was in the Michiana area as an attending Neonatologist at Memorial Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, and Elkhart General Hospital.
In addition to his dedication to children and families, he was also an avid gardener, landscape designer and self-made architect. In his limited free time he also enjoyed soccer, table tennis and watching sports.
He worshiped at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James, where he also served as a lector.
He was very passionate about supporting causes that improved the lives of children, such as March of Dimes and A Rosie Place, and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children.
He is survived by his mother; three brothers, Oyekunle, Oyewale and Oyeniyi; wife and two children; and a grandchild, Alexander Oyedeji Paich Okanlami.
A viewing will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. and a service of songs from 7 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 53720 N. Ironwood Rd., South Bend, IN. A funeral service will be held Sunday, March 15, at 1 p.m. at The Cathedral of St. James, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend. (All South Bend times.) Interment will be private. Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to A Rosie Place (www.arosieplace.org), or Memorial Children’s Hospital (http://www.qualityoflife.org/childrenshospital).
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.