Mary Esther Chima

Mary Esther Osadebe was born to her parents who are the late Mrs. Maria Utubo Osadebe Nee Nwabueze and Mr. Christopher Obodoefuna Osadebe in Atani, Anambra State, Nigeria on December 14, 1947. She later had two other siblings, Elder Felix Chukwudum Osadebe and Juliet Titi Udemba Onwuemene Nee Osadebe, that she helped raised during her adolescent years. Mary went on to study at the teacher training college where her love for teaching and the Roman Catholic faith grew stronger each day. She would later graduate from the college and take up a career in banking. Mary worked at the bank where she met a wonderful and interesting man named Stanley Chima. They would later get married and have their first son Ikechi Stanley Chima on February 28, 1971. The Chimas had their second child name Chichi Chima, in 1973, but their daughter died from an infection as a toddler. While her husband, Stanley Chima, came to Omaha, Nebraska, to continue his studies in finance and economics, Mary kept the fort together and helped raised their son Ike. After her husband obtained his MBA, he decided to have his family move and plant its roots in Omaha in 1977.



Mary’s commitment and dedication to her husband and family allowed her to strive for so much more. She started at Younkers in 1980 while enrolling as an undergrad at Bellevue College. On February 19, 1982, the Chimas had their third child, Iheanyichukwu Christopher Chima. Mary later left Younkers to work at Douglas County Bank & Trust after obtaining her BA from Bellevue College in 1985. After spending a few years at DCB&T, she was able to land a job with First Data Resources and continued to climb the ladder with the organization. Mary worked very hard to provide for her family and took up the responsibility of working part-time in something she always had a passion for: education. She went on to work for Metropolitan Technical Community College as a GED examiner and she continue to stay in this position well into the late 1990’s. Mary also worked at the Omaha World Herald in their distribution division and at First National Bank of Omaha in their Wealth Management Group.



Whenever Mary had some downtime or time away from the monotony of working, she enjoyed spending that time with her family and friends. Whether spending time watching soap opera with her youngest son, Ifeanyi, or sports with her oldest son, Ikechi, Mary always loved to be with her family. After working at least two jobs for well over 35 years, Mary decided to retire from First National Bank of Omaha in 2011 and the Omaha World Herald in 2016.



Mary Esther Chima is survived by her two sons, Ikechi Stanley Chima and Iheanyichukwu Christopher Chima as well as her brother, Elder Felix Chukwudum Osadebe and all of her nieces, nephews, and cousins.





VISITATION: Saturday, April 9th, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 3601 North 65 St Omaha, NE. 68104, beginning at 9am with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am.



Interment Calvary Cemetery, 7800 West Center Road.



Memorials to St. Bernard Parish, 3601 North 65 St Omaha, NE. 68104.















JOHN A. GENTLEMAN MORTUARIES AND CREMATORY

1010 North 72 St. 402-391-1664 www.johnagentleman.com