Andrew Chibueze Okunonke

On June 17, 2009, Andrew Chibueze Okunonke arrived in Edison, New Jersey, bringing a light into the lives of his parents, Simon Jolly and Leticia Ugochukwu Okunonke, that would never dim. Though his journey began in Edison, his heart belonged to Union, the town where he grew up, went to school, and built a life defined by friendship and laughter.

A Junior at Union High School, Andrew was looking forward to the milestone of graduation next year. His family remains eternally grateful to the school community, whose unwavering and unconditional support provided a foundation of care for Andrew throughout his academic journey.

To know Andrew was to know a world of "Blue", his favorite color and perhaps a reflection of his calm yet vibrant soul. He lived at the intersection of creativity and connection. As a child, he dreamed of being an artist, his hands always busy capturing the world through drawings. As he grew, his artistic eye for detail evolved into a deep empathy for others, he began to trade his sketchbooks for a future in social work intending to dedicate his life to helping people navigate their own stories.

In Andrew’s world, distance didn’t exist. He was a master of the digital age, often found at the center of actively using three different iPads for a reason we don’t know, playing alongside his close friends Elyse, Xavier, and Akindele. Whether he was lost in the worlds of Power Rangers or Henry Danger, or laughing at Friends (and harboring a newfound crush on Phoebe), Andrew found joy in the stories that made him smile. It was fitting that his favorite color was blue, he was at his happiest when surrounded by the endless blue skies and turquoise waters of Aruba, a paradise he loved so much the family returned twice just to see him shine in the sun

He is survived by his devoted parents and his three older siblings: Ashlee, Austin, and Alex. To them, Andrew isn’t just a brother, he is the heartbeat of their favorite memories. They will forever carry the echo of his high-pitched childhood laugh, a sound that represents the purest kind of happiness.

Chibu, you are the love of our lives and the greatest gift we will ever experience. We love you, we miss you, and we carry your light with us always.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 9th from 9:00am to 10:00am at Crossroads Christian Fellowship, located at 2815 Morris Avenue in Union. A funeral service will then begin at 10:00am.

Entombment will follow at Hollywood Cemetery located at 1621 Stuyvesant Avenue in Union.

A repast will then be held at the same church, Crossroads Christian Fellowship.