She had chest pain’ — Saint Janet’s children recount her last moments

‘She had chest pain’ — Saint Janet’s children recount her last moments

The children of Juju and Highlife singer Iyun ‘Saint Janet‘ Ayilore have recounted her final hours, revealing that she complained of chest pain and breathing difficulties before she passed on.

 

The singer’s manager confirmed her demise to TheCable Lifestyle on August 2, though the cause of death wasn’t disclosed.

In a recent interview with ALORE TV, Omowunmi, Orinayo, and Fola Ayilor, Ayilore’s children, detailed the events leading to her passing.

Omowunmi said the singer had performed at a show in Sango, Ogun state, the previous night and returned home without any sign of illness.

“She performed the previous night. People even celebrated her with applause. We did not suspect anything. After the show we came home and slept. The show was overnight,” she said.

Janet’s daughter said the following day, the singer went to the market and returned around 6 pm, insisting on cooking her own meal. She said she later noticed her mother clutching her chest

“After she finished cooking, she checked around the house to see if there was anything else for her to do. I later noticed she was holding her chest. She said she felt like something wanted to drop off her chest. Her breathing was no longer regular,” Omowunmi said.

She said the singer later asked to be taken to the hospital.

“It was my uncle and my three other siblings that took her to the hospital. They said when they got to the hospital, it was not up to 10 minutes that she was admitted and was given oxygen,” she added.

Her son Orinayo said she was admitted and given oxygen within minutes, but medical staff lost her pulse shortly after.

“I was told that she was having difficulty in breathing. We took her to the hospital, and she was being attended to immediately. It was when they were looking for pulse that she gave up,” he said.

Fola, another daughter, said she arrived at the hospital only to be told her mother had passed away.

“She complained of chest pain. It is my sister that can explain better. She was not sick. They said she went to the market to buy food stuff. I also saw the soup she was preparing. They came to call me that she was dead,” she said.

Fola described her mother as a caring woman who always ensured that people around her had food.

“She was a good mother. She always ensured that people around her eat,” she said.

 

Janet’s manager who worked with her for several years said she performed well at her final show and showed no signs of distress.

He added that she had called him on the day of her death to say she was cooking soup and would ring him back.

“We went for a show at Sango. After performing, she went back to sit among the audience, and she spoke with the organiser. She sang well and did not show any sign of sickness,” he said.

The family has set up a committee to handle burial arrangements. A nine-day period of prayer and thanksgiving has begun, with the funeral scheduled for August 25 and 26.

The family appealed for prayers and said the dates were agreed upon by all members.