Obituary of Elna Nandako Nyongesa
Elna Nandako Nyongesa, 19, passed away suddenly on Saturday, November 11, 2023, in Newark, NJ.
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Elna moved to the United States at an early age with her family, who settled in New Jersey and has resided in South Plainfield since 2017. She was a proud graduate of South Plainfield Middle School and High School. Following her graduation in 2022, she was a student at Montclair State University before transferring to New Jersey Institute of Technology where she majored in Computer Science.
In high school, Elna worked as a barista in the Piscataway Starbucks and the South Plainfield Target Starbucks. Once settled in Newark, she began working as a cashier in a local convenience store. When not working or in school, she was active in multiple extracurricular activities and clubs. While in SPHS, she was a member of the Jersian’s History club, and Environmental Science Club, through which she volunteered at the South Plainfield Senior Center and participated in local park cleanups, and played basketball for three years. At NJIT, she was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity.
When not busy with school or clubs, Elna managed to find time to explore various artistic endeavors including photography, sketching, and learning to play various instruments. She also had a high aptitude for technology and engineering, taking coding courses and building her PC from scratch. She rarely needed a manual to put things together.
Above all else, Elna will be remembered for her beautiful personality. Being adventurous, she was always looking for a new experience, with a kind heart, she looked to help those around her as much as she could, and she was a good and faithful friend. She kept a positive outlook on life and aimed to make those around her laugh. With an eye for detail, Elna was diligent and took a lot of care in everything she did, making sure projects were always done right, and to the best of her ability.
Elna is survived by her mother, Esther Wafula; father Paul Masibo; siblings Elsa, Hadasha, and Ethan; and step-father Ronald Dismuke. She will also be missed by a host of extended relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held at McCriskin - Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 9 AM to 10 AM.
Funeral services will begin at 11 AM in the funeral home on Friday, December 15, 2023.
Burial will follow at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield.