Anthony Amoko Valfrido Droko was born on August 8th, 1969, in Wau, South Sudan to mother Sarafina Gerriya and father Sayed Valfrido Droko. He was the youngest (last born) in the family of Valfrido Droko.
Anthony attended Unity Two Primary School, Addis-Ababa Intermediate School, and Juba Model Intermediate School in Juba, South Sudan in his youth. Due to the civil war in the 1980s, Anthony moved to Khartoum in Northern Sudan where he continued to pursue his secondary education at St. Augustine Secondary School, where he sat for his secondary school certificate examination.
As a student, Anthony academically was an industrious, brilliant student; ambitious and eager to learn; always asking the right questions. He had an excellent interpersonal relationship with teachers and his student colleagues.
After marrying Angelina Cleto in 1994 he worked as a tailor and tailor trainer while attending Omdurman Ahlia University in Omdurman. In pursuit of his higher education, Anthony eventually received a diploma in Business Administration in 1995 at Kymbogo Polytechnic College in Kampala, Uganda. During the same year their first child, Emmanuela, was born in Khartoum, Sudan. Anthony proceeded to work as a tailor and tailor trainer at the Families and Women Development Association (FAWDA) in Arkawit, Khartoum. During this time he and his family fled from Sudan to Cairo, Egypt where he continued working at his craft until 1999. Their second child, Kristo was born in Cairo and the four of them proceeded to leave for Vancouver, BC, Canada that year.
Anthony had a very strong loving relationship with the family of his sister Antoniata. As a young child, he was supported and cared for by his sister Antoniata when they lived in Juba and Khartoum. Anthony was dedicated to being a true brother and friend to Antoniata’s family. He always sought advice from his sister. For example, when Anthony wanted to leave Sudan for Egypt, he came to Antoniata and her family for advice and support. Anthony loved his sisters dearly. He demonstrated his love by visiting Antoniata's family in the UK on three occasions. And in 2015 when Antoniata and her family were visiting their sister Pelista and family in Missouri, USA, Anthony made sure that he was in the company of his sisters. He traveled there from Canada to meet with both Antoniata and Pelista in the United States where they had a great get-together for two weeks.
Anthony is a man of the people; a giant in the family of Valfrido Droko; a hard-working brother, friendly to all family members of Valfrido and all community members. He kept close contact with many in the Sudanese community, including raising his family alongside cousin Rose Aling, her husband Albert Abel, and children Mersilia, Daniel, Easton, and Grace.
He was hired at La Fabrica Fashions in Vancouver, BC where he worked for over 20 years. Owners Roberto and Irma Castro then became his parental figures in Canada. He and Angelina continued to have their third child in 2001, Patricia, born in New Westminster. In 2003 he applied for Canadian citizenship and the young Droko family received their Canadian citizenship in 2005.
Anthony cherished praising the Lord. He loved reading his Holy Bible and always enjoyed helping others; always laughing and always wearing a smile on his face. He was a loving and caring brother (person); devoted to family; always thinking of others first. He received his honors of the First Degree within the Knights of Columbus Brotherhood and officially became a Knight of Columbus on November 10th, 2011. This continues to be on eof the great honors of his life. As someone who was dedicated to serving the community, Anthony was regularly involved in the South Sudanese Association of British Columbia (SSABC) Homework Club and served for many years at the Equatorian South Sudanese Community Association of British Columbia (ESSCA-BC).
In August 2018, Anthony traveled back to South Sudan. He was met by family and friends and greatly enjoyed his trip home for the first time in nearly 18 years. On January 29th, 2021 Anthony received his cancer diagnosis and after a hard-fought battle, he was laid to rest peacefully at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, BC, Canada surrounded by loved ones. Anthony leaves to cherish his loving memory of his family: Emmanuela, Kristo, and Patricia, and wife Angelina; His brothers and sisters and friends.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Amen.