INTRODUCTION
The body of
Late Mrs Philomina Mmanuenyenwa Ikowu Onyiriuka was commuted to mother earth on Friday, the 12th
of April 2013. Mrs Philomena Onyiriuka died after a brief illness on the 12th
of March 2013.
Sadness,sorrow,anguish,bitterness
and melancholy pervaded the air around Naze and its environs as the families of
Onyiriuka,friends and well wishers converged
to pay their last respect to this beautiful,lovely,amiable,highly
respected, great and noble woman.
Her body was conveyed from Agbala Mortuary at about 7.15 in the morning to her maiden home (Abakporo’s compound) in Umuakali Naze Owerri North Imo State.
From
Umuakali Naze, the body was conveyed straight to Umuorie Naze where she was lied in state and later moved
to St John’s Anglican Church Naze for funeral mass . Interment followed
immediately after church service at Mr.
Walter Onyiriuka’s compound.
GREAT MOMENTS ON EARTH
MRS PHILOMENA AT SON'S WEDDING IN 2012 |
MRS PHILOMENA(RIGHT) PRESENT AT THE ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH NAZE CENTENARY CELEBRATION IN 2012 DECEMBER |
CORPSE
ARRIVE MRS PHILOMENA’S MAIDEN HOME
THE SISTER -MRS ROSE OBINECHE IN TEARS |
MRS HERBERTH ABAKPORO( BROTHER) RECEIVNG THE CORPSE AT HER MAIDEN HOME |
SECOND DAUGHTER ONYII IN TEARS AS SHE CONSOLES HER TWO SONS. WHAT A SAD MOMENT! |
BODY LIED IN STATE AT HER HOME
HER YOUNGEST BROTHER ONYEWUCHI, THE SON NDUBISI AND HIS WIFE |
HER LAST SON -CHIKA IN TEARS |
MRS JOY ONYIRIUKA THERE TALKING TO THE DEAD. DO THEY HEAR? HEHE |
THE DECEASED HUSBAND MR WALTER ONYIRIUKA PAYS LAST RESPECT TO HIS LOVELY WIFE |
MRS EUNICE IGWE THERE CONSOLING HIS BROTHER |
CHIKA,JULIE AND ROSE BIDING THEIR MUM THE FINAL FAREWELL. WHAT A SAD MOMENT! |
HER FIRST GRAND CHILD IKENNA SEEING GRANDMA FOR THE LAST TIME. WOW! WHAT AN EMPTY LIFE |
STELLA ONYIRIUKA OKEYS WIFE SALUTES HER MOTHER IN-LAW FOR THE LAST TIME |
LADY PRINCESS ONYIRIUKA ONYEUKWU PAYING HER LAST RESPECT |
HER AGE GRADE |
THE CHURCH RECEIVES THE CORPSE |
VERY EMOTIONAL THERE AS MRS EUNICE IGWE LEDS HIS BROTHER( THE DECEASED HUSBAND) INTO THE CHURCH |
IKENNA OGUARIRI FIRST GRAND CHILD READING THE FUNERAL LESSON REV: 20:11-15 |
THE CHILDREN NDUBUISI AND AUGUSTA SINGING PSALM AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE |
HUSBAND OF THE DECEASED MR WALTER ONYIRIUKA AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE WITH THE SISTER |
ROSE- THIRD DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE |
MR ALLOY OGUARIRI- INLAW |
MR GODWIN ONYIRIUKA, WIFE AND DAUGHTER LISTENING TO SERMON |
SIR AND LADY I.O.B NWANGWU- INLAWS |
BROTHER- MR HERBERTH ABAKPORO VERY PENSIVE THERE |
HON. CHIJOKE UDEH WITH THE WIFE |
ENGR. EJIKE NDUBUISI ONYIRIUKA READING THE FUNERAL ORATION |
FUNERAL
ORATION AND TRIBUTES
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF LATE MRS
PHILOMENA MMANUENYENWA IKEOKWU
ONYIRIUKA[ NDAA PHILO]
My dear
mother , Philomena mmanuenyenwa ikoku
onyiriuka was born on august 30th,
1947 to the noble family of abakporo nnodim of umuobashi kindred , umuakali
naze in owerri north LGA of Imo State.
At the age of six, she accompanied her aunt mrs
Theresa Agugoeshi to kano to assist in
taking care of her children and to
continue her education. Late Philomena onyiriuka did her primary education at
Baptist primary school, kano state.
On
completion of primary school, mr walter onyiriuka admired her beauty and approached her aunty’s husband for a hand
in marriage which mr Agugoeshi did not welcome because of her age (12years) at
that time . But mr walter did not relent in his persuit for four years.
At the age
of sixteen (16) of Philomena, walter could not resist the beauty, he made the
second attempt which was granted by the aunty’s husband. Traditional marriage
was done at kano in 1963. She had her first child at the age of seventeen (17).
She came back with her husband to owerri
in 1966 due to Nigerian civil war
crisis and had since then been living at
naze where she engaged in different business activities.
Late mrs
Philomena onyiriuka was an active member of saint john’s Anglican church-
mothers union . she was also member of naze daughters, umuorie women
association, umuagwu women association where she was their chairlady until her
death , also a member of her age grade.
Mama, sleep
on and rest in the bossom of our lord jesus Christ. Amen.
She is
survived by
Onyiriuka
walter –husband
Chinyere
ngozi onyiriuka –daugther
Nkechi
onyegacha oguariri – daughter
Ndubuisi ejike onyiriuka
-
son
Rose ukachi onyiriuka -daugther
Juliana
agbachionwe onyiriuka –daugther
Okechukwu
chimaobi onyiriuka – son
Chikadibia
azubuike onyiriuka – son
Augusta
akudo onyiriuka -Daughter
DAUGHTER IN LAW
Chizoba ndy-
onyiriuka
Stella
ekene okey-onyiriuka
GRAND CHILDREN
Ikenna
oguariri – (grand son)
Obinna
oguariri –(grand son)
Muna ndy- onyiriuka- (grand daughter)
In- laws
Mr & Mrs
alloy oguariri
Late Mr
& Mrs victor alaekwe
Sir & lady
nwangwu
Brothers
Mr herberth
abakporo
Mr
onyewuchi ekelaka
Sister
Mrs rose
obineche
TRIBUTE TO MY BELOVED MOTHER
Words can
hardly express how I feel my mother (ndaa). My heart is full of pains and
sorrow that you left us unaware. How do I accept your departure, how am I
expected to cope with the thought that I will never see you again.
It still seems unreal to me . my heart is full
of questions but I believe that God has the answer because he knows the best.
My
consolation is that God’s ways are perfect but seems strange to those who don’t
believe in him. Actually, your death is so painful, for you were one in
millions, so precious, wonderful and irreplaceable mother , who has
a free heart of giving.
Ndaa, you
were the best mother any one can ever pray for or have. It was a priviledge to have been your daughter. You
provided and gave me the best things of life. I will be forever grateful to God
and appreciate his loving kindness.
Ndaa, I love you but God loves you most.
Adieu ndaa.
Chinyere ngozi onyiriuka
MY GOOD MOTHER
Ndaa, I wii forever remember you for a good mother you were. You never
hated any of your children but took each child the way he or she is. You are
the best mother on earth and you will
forever be my mother. May your soul rest in perfect peace.
Nkechi onyi oguariri - Daughter
MY MOM
Ndaa philo fondly
called by her children may have been a blessing to every person that had been
around her in her life time, whether they were her children ( biological or adopted),
her grand-children, family members or her circle of friends. She was herself
every single day of her life and never pretended to be anything she was not . Ndaa philo was someone you will
be inspired by her actions and way of life.
She was a
woman of emotions. At times, she can be fussy, sad, and could get angry when something
goes wrong. Otherwise, she was always
loving , carring and as well a
woman of
her opinions. Those qualities made my mom
the person she was and I
love her for all of those things.
Thank you
mom. Your passing has made me realized how much I
value all you stood for
and I will always love you for it. I will lways miss you - so will your sons , daughters and grand
children (ikenna , obinna and muna).
Ndaa, you were
a v ery special woman, ahead of your times. I am proud and grateful to have been your son. I hope to
see you when my time is up on this
planet. You have kept your faith
and run
your race. I love you dearly.
Rest in peace.
Engr. ndubuisi ejike onyiriuka
TRIBUTE TO A BELOVED
MOTHER
It is so unfortunate that
fate and death chose this exact time to give us this dreadful blow. We were
busy
making plans for Easter not
knowing we will never get the chance to see you again. Oh death how mean you
can be!. Ndaa its so painful you didn’t get to see your grandchildren from us
or get to see the wonderful plans we had for you.
Though it is hard our only
consolation is the knowledge that you are in a better place. We are not in the
position to question God but believe that in his supremacy he has reasons for
all things. Life is short they say but the little time you spent with us you
left a legacy to be imitated by others which is what matters the most. Sleep on
mama you will always remain close to our heart
Surv. Okey Onyiriuka and
wife
MY LOVELY MUM
LOVERLY MUM,DEATH IS NOT AN END BUT A PASSAGE OF ETERNAL
LIFE.THE TRUE WORTH OF LIFE IS A LIFE OF SERVICE TO HUMANITY AND GOD.MUM YOUR
LIFE EPITOMISED ENDEARING AND ENDURIN LOVE,SELF SACRIFICE AND INEXPLICABLE
MAGNANIMITY FOR EVERYONE YOU CAME IN CONTACT WITH.YOU WERE A RARE SYMBOL OF
JUSTICE,FAIRNESS AND EQUITY.
YOU GAVE HOPE TO THE HOPELESS AND RESUSCITATED A NEW LIFE IN
US WITH YOUR LIFE-FILLING SERMON.YOU EXUDED UNPARALLED
SAGACITY,CONSISTANCY,TRUTHFULNESS AND HONESTY IN YOUR DEALINGS.
YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE RARE ENIGMA,THE DISCUSSION WHICH CAN
NEVER BE EXPIRED.
YOU WERE AN ICONIC PERSONAGE,AN ENIGMA AND MYTH WHO BESTRODE
HER TIMES LIKE A COLOSSUS,AND WHO RESPONDED TO ALL EMERGENT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH
TYPICAL CANDOUR AND VALOUR.YOUR DEMISE MARKS THE END OF AN ERA AND CLOSE OF A
CHAPTER.THE VACUUM YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND WILL BE GREATLY FELT .
REST IN THE BOSOM OF THE LORD,MY DEAR MUM
CHIKADIBIA ONYIRIUKA
MY GRANDMOTHER
Grandma, I will miss you, miss so much, all the folk stories you always told us. You
are a grandma indeed that loved and cherished us.
Grandmom, we
love you so much but God loves you most.
May the good
lord grant you eternal rest Amen.
Grandson, ikenna
TRIBUTE TO MY SISTER IN-LAW
Oh death! you are so wicked.
You took away my senior brothers wife at the time she was to be very useful to
I and my children especially Ezechi who always came to her for some food items
to go back to school and you never said no to his request .
Philo we were planning the wedding of my daughter together as I never do anything without telling you and you also never do anything without telling me. But you did not tell me you are going to leave me soon. Well ,I will not question God for he knows the best. But I still doubt your death till now. You are still my sister in law even in death.
Good bye, rest in perfect
peace, Amen.
Mrs. Eunice I. Igwe (nee
Onyiriuka)
TRIBUTE TO A BELOVED
MOTHER
Its so hard to say goodbye to
yesterday. Nda mi philo, you and I chatted and joked two nights before your sad
demise . The news of your death came to
me as a very huge shock. You have no idea what losing you have done to my
heart, it tore a piece of soul out of my
chest.
Nda philo, you were one of
the greatest mothers the onyiriuka’s have ever produced. You were a great
source of inspiration to this generation. You showered everyone with love, care
and attention. You never segregated , you saw every youth as your biological
child, you were very bold, fearless and courageous and never failed to scream,
shout, scold and caution any of us that went
astray or contravened. You were an epitome of a good woman.
I will never forget how you
brought all the youths( onyiriuka’s e.t.c.) together in your shop and told us
about events that occurred when we were not born. Chei! Uwa sef!.
Your warm advice and
encouragements will forever live in my memory. You were a cheerful giver and
was ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of peace. Rest in peace ma; we
will continue to pray for you till we meet and part no more.
Adieu Nda philo!
IK Onyiriuka(aka manny)
TRIBUTE TO NDAA PHILO
Nda so it is really true that you
are no more, I still find it difficult to believe that you have passed on. We were
planning for my wedding together but you
never stayed to witness it, Oh death! Why have you decided to put sorrow in my
happiness. I love you, rest in the bosom of the Almighty God . Sleep on, sleep well, till we meet to
part no more
Chienyenwa Nneke
TRIBUTE TO
OUR PRESIDENT
We doubtful to believe that you are gone philo. words are not enough to
express the sadness we feel loosing you.
Your sudden
death on the 22nd of march, 2013
in umuagwu has created a vacuum
in the minds of those of us who love and
cherished you while you were alive.
Our prayer is that God gloriously crown
you with his blessing.
Presi-do laa nke omaoo.
EDNA . E OLERU (SECRETARY)
FOR THE UMUAGWU WOMEN
THE BURIAL
ENGR. EJIKE THERE- EARTH TO EARTH, DUST TO DUST........... |
CHRISTIAN MOTHERS MATCH THE GRAVE AND BID FINAL FAREWELL |
RIP MRS PHILOMENA ONYIRIUKA |
FAMILY MEMBERS DANCE AFTER BURIAL
THAT'S ELIGWE NWAUGORJI THE POPULAR OWERRI BONGO ARTIST DOING WHAT HE KNOWS BEST |
SURV. OKEY AND BEAUTIFUL YOUNGER SISTER AUGUSTA DOING THE DANCE AND SMILING. LOL |
ENGR. NDUBUISI THERE WITH THE STUBBORN GOAT. HEHE |
TRIBUTE SONG- SOLEDAD BY WESTLIFE
……..THE END……
REST IN PEACE NDA PHILO. BLESSED IS THE NAME THAT GIVETH AND THE ONE THAT TAKETH.
ReplyDeleteRIP my beloved mum
ReplyDeleteR.I.P second mum
ReplyDeleteMay you find rest in the lord.
ReplyDeleteRIP MY LOVELY MUM N I WILL NEVER 4GET U IN LIFE BCOS U MADE ME WAT I BE 2DAY.........
ReplyDeleteIyke your coverage is nice, thanks
ReplyDeleteIyke Welldone May her soul rest with the lord
ReplyDeleteRest in peace Nda Philo, God knows the
ReplyDeletebest.
What a beautiful tribute to a much beloved woman. Scripture tells us that the measure a godly, virtuous woman is when her children rise up and call her blessed. You have all done so quite eloquently. My prayers are with you all, my brothers and sisters. I am so sorry for your loss and pray that God will bring healing to you as you remember what Nda Philo has taught all of you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Your sister,
Esther Ramos Onyiriuka
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN GOES HOME SO SOON. RIP. NICE JOB IK ONYIRIUKA. THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO IMMORTALIZE HEROS. THUMBS UP MAN
ReplyDeleteMama philo rest in peace.
ReplyDeletendaa rest in peace .
ReplyDeleteGod bless my mum,we all miss u
ReplyDeleteSo sad,R RIP
ReplyDeleteTruly sad, rest in peace ma.
ReplyDeleteRest in peace ma, it is well.
ReplyDelete