Ms. Marguerite Tshilongo Mutombo

It is with deepest sympathy that we announce the passing of Ms. Marguerite Tshilongo Mutombo, age 76, of Mableton, Georgia, who entered into her eternal rest on June 18, 2024.  A Celebration of LIfe will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 11:00 AM in The Evelyn Samples Shelton Memorial Chapel of Hanley Shelton Funeral Home 473 Lawrence Street, Marietta Georgia.

Hanley Shelton Funeral Directors, Marietta.

                                                                                     Marguerite Tshilongo Mutombo Obituary

Marguerite Tshilongo Mutombo was an amazing, upbeat, outgoing, humble, warm, and determined woman who loved her family, brought joy into a room, and cared deeply about those around her. She connected with new people easily, loved telling stories about her childhood and life experiences, and kept tabs on her very large extended family to follow their progress. During her lifetime, Marguerite lived in 4 countries and spoke 5 languages.

Marguerite Tshilongo Mutombo was born April 20, 1948, in Kipushi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Floribert Mutombo and Malongo Gertrude. The family lived in housing for mine workers where Marguerite’s father worked for the company Gecamines. Marguerite had 12 brothers and sisters, most of whom still live in Congo. She attended Catholic school and as a mother later shared stories of the experience learning from nuns. One of her favorite memories was being in Girl Guides with her sister Gode and going camping and volunteering for the elderly. Marguerite sang the songs from girl guides to her children and spoke of her adventures in camp activities.

Another significant experience for Marguerite was the civil war which broke out when she was 11, when the Luba ethnic group was chased out of the Katanga Province and forced to relocate to Kasai Province as violence broke out after Congo’s independence. Marguerite’s family barely escaped ethnic killings and took refuge in a UN camp in Lubumbashi for a year and a half. Conditions in the camp were so unsafe that her father dug a hole inside the tent where the family would hide. The family finally left the camp to return to their village Bena Dihumba, after which they moved to Mbuji Mayi to live with extended family.

Marguerite often shared stories of her close friendship with her older sister Gode, and after the war when Gode was married, Marguerite was sent to live with her in Lubumbashi. The sisters and brother-in-law would later relocate to the capital of Kinshasa to begin their lives there. Later in Kinshasa Marguerite met Tshilemalema Mukenge and they married. They had four children – Ndaya, Muadi, Tshimpo and Malongo, living in Kinshasa and Canada. The marriage later dissolved, and the children moved to the US with their father while Marguerite moved to Russia to work at the Congolese Embassy in Moscow, where she worked as a secretary, accountant, and protocol. Marguerite lived in Moscow for 17 years, during which she welcomed her 5th child, Thierry-Joel. She later brought two of her brothers and a nephew from Congo to live with her.

Marguerite moved to the United States in 1998 to join her children in Atlanta. For the next 26 years, she would persevere to learn English, pursue higher education, learn to drive, gain a wide range of work experience, and pursue various certifications. Marguerite earned an associate’s degree in accounting. She also became a licensed insurance agent, building expertise in financial planning and insurance. She was an avid learner and took initiative to accomplish things on her own and help other Congolese to adapt to life in the United States. Marguerite worked at Interactive Technical College in the library for 9 years, helping students access resources to succeed academically. She worked in various jobs until retiring in May 2024.

One of Marguerite’s greatest joys was becoming a grandmother. She was the proud grandmother of 5 grandchildren, babysat her nephews and nieces often and enjoyed singing songs to them and cooking for them. Her home was the setting for many family dinners where all the adult and young children would gather for a meal, then Maman would start the dance session for everyone to join. She enjoyed dancing and celebrations.

Marguerite was preceded in death by her daughter Ndaya, and leaves behind her children Muadi, Tshimpo (Jewett), Malongo,  Thierry (Iesha) and her grandchildren. She also has six remaining siblings, numerous nieces and nephews, and their children. Marguerite had an extensive memory and a big heart – remembering the families of her many aunts and uncles and connected her U.S.-based children to their relatives in Congo. She would always have in mind how to help her relatives back home in Congo and would check on them regularly. May this spirit of solidarity continue throughout our family.

May her soul rest in peace.

Friends may send flowers directly to the Hanley-Shelton Funeral Home, 473 Lawrence Street, Marietta 30060.

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