Chief Executive Officer of Computer Services Limited, Laeimau Oketevi Tanuvasa-Savea known affectionately as “Tevi” to many of her friends, passed away over the weekend at her family home in Fa’atoia.
A mother to her only child Luisa, Laeimau passed away from stage four cancer.
One of Laeimau’s cousins who lives overseas and had come to visit her during her battle with cancer spoke to Samoa Global News about her tautua to the family.
Seiuli Vaea Vaiaoga said that his cousin was a person with a big heart who loved her families on both her father and mother’s side.
“Her heart is for her family especially to her husband Sam Savea and their only child Luisa Savea who she named after her mother,” said Seiuli.
“She is the daughter of Tanuvasa Lene of Nofoalii and Luisa Vaaulu Vaiaoga of Toamua.
“When I was in Samoa earlier this year I went and visited her at her home at Faatoia and I saw she was in so much pain.
“I just played my ukulele and we sang and shed tears together and I knew that it would be the last time I see her.
“She was a woman of many words and she was a straight forward person.”
Seiuli said he will miss his dear cousin very much but he is also happy that she is in a much better place where she is free from pain.”
Tevis contribution to Samoa is evident from the hundreds of social media tributes from friends, family and colleagues reaching out express their condolences her family especially for Sam and Luisa.
One of the tributes was from Laeimau’s dearest friend Nanai Lave Tuiletufuga who is also a member of the Samoa Events Incorporated SEI, a group of friends of SamCo Class of 81 that Laeimau had put together.
Nanai’s tribute is shared below:
Remembering Tevi… “E sa le kagi.”
Laeimau Oketevi Tanusava was born to hold court. From infant, primary, intermediate and college school years, her leadership qualities spoke volumes and even during her last days, Tevi’s resolve to lead by example did not waiver.
We knew back in August that she had a few months to live after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
And for a dying person, Tevi remained busy without a care in the world and use what time she had left to plan, every nitty little bitty detail of her finals days to the moment that would we wish her well with her next journey, it was all spelled out to her devoted hubby “My Sam” for us to follow to the letter.
But paramount to our fearless Head Girl is for her family and friends to celebrate her life. “E sa le kagi,”were her instructions to us.
But let’s get into the real story. It’s not the way she fought, and it’s not that she died. That’s not the story at all.
It’s that she lived and for a bunch of years graced this planet with her presence. It’s that she was amazing and totally unique and one of those rare and wonderful people we sometimes call characters.
She was someone one could call, larger than life, and we all did.
Some love to hate her uncompromising decisions. But that was the Tevi we came to know and respect from our school years.
Some would agree to disagree with her entirely but in the end, Tevi has touched the lives of each and every Classmate of 1981 in her own way and it will never be the same without her.
The fun, the laughter, the connecting, and the creative buzz, that’s what Tevi was all about And there she towered, always the centre of the action, with the best and loudest laugh. The truest laugh, because that was the main thing about her, she was 100% real with a heart that was open and ready to embrace everyone. Unless one ticked her off… but even then she’d let the poor soul know it, in no uncertain terms or polite words, and then be done with it.
Through Tevi’s doing, she managed to unite a group of adults with complex personalities from various walks of life and professions to value the true meaning of real friendship. It’s a rare legacy and one of a kind for a bunch of adults who have been afar for over 30 years to really unite and treasure their respective achievements. And at the same time, to resurrect respect for one another. That’s what Tevi did superbly as echoed by Frank Sinatra’s – “My way.”
Tevi masterminded a bold and daring plan to bring together the Classmates of 1981 with the endorsement of her locally based classmates and taking the lead to network with our sisters and brothers abroad in American Samoa, Hawaii, USA, New Zealand and in Australia.
And five years later, the Classmates of 1981 under her leadership are no longer pretenders but contenders with two successful class reunions in Apia 2015 and Auckland 2017 complemented by a Teachers Banquet to honour and pay tribute to all our teachers who played a role in our education journey.
In the five year history of the Class of 1981, the Group has staged and hosted the Miss Samoa Pageant under the Samoa Events Incorporated banner. That three year journey ended this year with the first ever Miss Samoa to be staged on the Big Island of Savaii.
Tevi did what she had to do and took things one-step at a time but she always looked forward and never dwelled on the past. She was an inspiration.
For our group, let’s be mindful of the true blessing that she was to us. It should give us the strength to continue on in faith knowing that she would want us to honour her memory in this way.
Thank you Tevi, for having such an impact on our lives, and making it rich with love and friendship.
You always said that only the sky’s the limit, so we choose to believe that you just went ahead as always to research it before us. Have a great journey up there Head Girl.
To Sam and Luisa our prayers and condolences.
We pray that God’s choicest blessings will be bestowed on you and family. May God grant you the peace and strength to carry on in faith.
Fly High Tevi, Fly High our Head Girl, Fly High….
PS – Not doing too good with the tears department..
Samoa Global News expresses warm sympathies and condolences to Sam, Lisa and Laeimau’s family. She was a legend. Her passing is a great loss to Samoa.
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