Claudio Omondi Hagoi

Claudio Omondi Hagoi fondly known as Junior was born on May 26th 1998 in Nairobi. He was born to Franklin Omondi Hagoi and the late Judith Shisia. He was born at Pumwani Maternity hospital. Claudio was the first born in a family of two and his younger sister is Alice who is currently a university student in Nairobi. Their mother Judith passed away while giving birth to Alice. 

Claudio was named after his paternal grandfather. Right from childhood, Claudio was always polite and easy going child. He was also always very inquisitive from a young age. Thatinquisitive mindset enabled him to become a good student in both primary and high school. 

His outgoing personality enabled him to make friends easily while Total Care Academy Primary school and even Kanga High school. He also began to discover his talents while in High school such as rugby, photography and filmmaking. 

All those extracurricular activities did not take away his focus from studies. He remained an excellent student and always maintained perfect grades. He eventually passed his High School exam, attaining excellent grade and received admission to one of the public universities in Kenya.

After high school, while waiting admission to join university, Claudio who was multitalented, joined some of his Nairobi friends to pursue film making and photography venture for 1 year until he travelled to the US to pursue degree in Culinary Arts.

Claudio came to the USA on December 31, 2017, and settled in Savannah, Georgia, where he enrolled in Savannah Technical College to study Culinary Arts. On 9th of January 2018 he met Suwilanji, who became his wife a year later. He got baptized at the World Mission Society Church of God (Savannah branch) in November 2018, and wedded his beloved wife on the 31st of May,2019 at Tybee Island. They then moved in together in their first apartment in Georgetown, Savannah. They briefly lived in Tennessee, and then back to Savannah, and then moved to Augusta in 2023. He worked for First Watch, and then FedEx until his untimely passing on October, 26 2024.

Claudio’s favorite hobbies among many things were travelling, photography, cooking, eating, bike riding, hiking, fitness, spending time with family, journaling, driving, fashion, and watching movies. His favorite color was green. He favoriteshows were “The Office, and This is us.”

Claudio was preceeded by his mother, Judith Shisia, and aunt Juliet Akinyi. He is survived by his wife Suwilanji, Father Franklyn Omondi; Grandparents Jacob & Alice Odongo, David & Alice Khamba; Sister Alice; Uncles Esau, Mike, Collins, and Dan, Aunties Aggie, Sande, Hilda, Damaris, Pam, Nora, and many other grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

While our hearts are breaking for our irreplaceable friend, we will forever cherish the time we were blessed to share with Claudio. We will always look back with fond memories at what a kind, patient, loving young man we got to know and love. Rest in peace, Junior, until we meet again.

A funeral service for Claudio will be held Sunday November 17, 2024, at 11.00AM, at the Chapel of Caldwell and Cowan funeral home, 1215 Access Rd. Covington, GA 30014, and interment following in Lawnwood Memorial Park. Friends are invited to visit with the family at the funeral home, two hours prior to his service, from 9:00 – 11:00AM.