By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Nnewi, the industrial hub of Anambra State, was agog on November 22, 2024 as one of the Directors of Spiritan School of Philosophy Isienu, Ebonyi State, Reverend father Hyacinth Edokwe buried his mother, late Lady Christiana Oduchukwu.
Oduchukwu, aged 81, was laid to rest at Otolo Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area (LGA), with mass officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Revd. Jonas Benson Okoye, and attended by many bigwigs, including an oil magnate, Sir A. B. C. Orjkakor.
Others who graced the burial were the Catholic priests, especially the Board of Trustees and members of Juniorate Old Boys Association (JOBA) Ihiala and other Holyghost fathers, and the Religious, who praised Late Christiana as a virtuous woman, mother with different and Christian whose life worth emulating.
Delivering a homely, Bishop Okoye, focusing on Gospel of John 3:37 to 40, urged Christians to live a life for Christ so as to ensure that at the end, they would not be found wanting in entering the kingdom of God.
"Lady Christiana was reputed for her faith. If it sounds redundant that a priest's mother is so described, it is because not all who claim to be Christian are so in practice. Lady Christiana practiced her faith in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
"That is why I urge you to retain such Christian faith so that as you reflect in the mystery of death, like your mother's passage, you can find solace in knowing that it is not an end itself but a passage to eternal life," the prelate charged the mourner.
Speaking at the event, Fr Hyacinth Edokwe recalled that his late mother lived a fulfilled life as a mother and member of the Legion of Mary society, Divine Mercy and Knight of Saint John International.
"My mother and daddy (Sir Augustine Oguejiofor Edokwe) registered and enrolled me and my brother as members of the Junior Praesidium. Every member of legion of Mary is assigned to do some legion work during the week.
"While visiting a hospital for this legion work, my sister, Tina was in the hospital preparing to deliver her baby. After the ward round, my mother stayed with Tina. She had a safe delivery and began to do omugwo work immediately. Now that she is in heaven, she will be doing more work for her children," he said.
In a condolence message signed by the National President, Chukwuemeka Nsofor and Uzokwe Chukwuemeka, the National Secretary General, the Juniorate Old Boys Association (JOBA), commiserate with Edokwe family, urging them to see death as inevitable awaiting all mortals.
Also in a condolence message, the Rector, Spiritan School of Philosophy, Isienu, Rev. Dr Stanislaus Nwaigwe assured Fr Hyacinth Edokwe that the confreres were united with him at the time of mourning.
"You can always rest assured of our sustained prayers and support for you and your siblings as well as for the peaceful repose of your mother. Your composure at the face of all this has demonstrated your kind of strength and energy. These unique resources are no doubt, founded on the strong belief you share with us in the resurrection of the dead and in the life of the world to come," he noted.
Late Christiana Oduchukwu Edokwe was survived by nine children, friends, families and other relatives.