BURIAL/LIFE AND TIMES OF LATE SIR DONATUS EMEREUWAONU OGU (SIR DONS) 1940-2013.

LATE SIR DONATUS EMEREUWAONU OGU(1940-2013)

INTRODUCTION

Late Sir Donatus Emereuwaonu Ogu an Indigene of Ubowalla - Emekuku in Owerri North LGA of Imo State was commuted to murder earth on 23^rd of August 2013. He died on the 23^rd of July 2013 after a brief illness. Sir Dons Ogu was a devoted Christian, a peace maker, a lively and jovial man, very industrious and kind hearted .He was an epitome of a true Christian and will be greatly missed by everyone who came across him in his lifetime.

On Thursday the 22^nd of july 2013,the Cancellation mass took place at the St Patrick’s  Cathedral in Awka  Anambra  State after which the body was conveyed to his home town in imo state.  The funeral mass took place the next day at the St Peter’s  Catholic Church Ubowalla  Emekuku. His burial and life on earth is summarized below. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.

GREAT  MOMENTS  ON  EARTH

 

HIS WEDDING IN 1980 AT MOUNT CAMEL CATHOLIC CHURCH EMEKUKU OWERRI

INITIATED INTO THE PRESTIGEOUS KNIGHTHOOD OF ST JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL

                           

SIR DONS WITH THE MEMBERS OF OLD OWERRI PROGRESSIVE UNION AWKA. HE WAS THE FOUNDER AND ERSTWHILE PRESIDENT OF THIS ASSOCINATION. WOW!  A GREAT MAN IS GONE.

ARRIVAL OF FIRST CHILD- KELECHI OGU

SIR DONS IN HIS CHOIR REGALIA

AT DAUGHTER'S MATRICULATION

                                        

AT A PUBLIC FUNCTION WITH THE WIFE

HE IS COMFIRMED A KNIGHT OF ST JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL

PRACTISING HIS PROFESSION- MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIANS

SIR DONS DISPLAYING HIS GREAT SKILLS AS A CHOIR MASTER

       THE FUNERAL CEREMONY

BODY LEAVES AWKA FOR IMO STATE

BODY ARRIVES UBOWALLA- EMEKUKU

THE WIFE LADY LAURA ONYII PAYING LAST RESPECT

FIRST DAUGHTER ADAEZE SALUTES DAD FOR THE LAST TIME

                                    

FUNERAL LESSON BY FIRST DAUGHTER- ADAEZE

THE LAST JOURNEY

ADAEZE PAYS LAST RESPECT TO DADDY- EARTH TO EARTH,ASH TO ASH,DUST TO DUST

SECOND SON CHIKWE BIDS DAD FINAL FAREWELL

SECOND DAUGHTER OGOO PAYS LAST RESPECT

MR. REGINALD OPARA PAYS LAST RESPECT TO HIS INLAW

VOTE OF THANKS

 

BIOGRAPHY

Sir Donatus Emereuwaonu Ogu was born to the family of Lazarus and Josephine Ogu on March 9, 1940. He was the only surviving child of his parents.

He attended our Lady's primary school Emekuku Owerri, from there, he moved to Trinity high school Oguta in Imo state. Sir Dons aspiration to obtain a bachelors degree in textile Engineering dampened when his uncle Thomas Ogu, who also was his sponsor died in the north during the pogrom. His quest for knowledge lead him to Holy rosary hospital Emekuku, were he was trained to become a medical laboratory technician.

After his training, Sir Dons working career started with Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku. He Moved to Ogwa general hospital Ogwa, then serve the children's fund hospital. His service was widely sort after by hospitals and medical centres in the Southern and middle belt region of the country. He worked with Salvation army medical team, Oji River, Achi Joint Hospital. St. Joseph memorial hospital, Upu. In 1982, the sisters of Daughters of Divine Love came with an offer that lured him to Awka, he began his working career in Awka with Regina Ceali Hospital.

Sir Dons left his wife and Son Kelechi, in Emekuku to live in the Bishop's House in St. Patrick's Cathedral Awka where he became friends with Late Archibishop A.K Obiefuna, Bishop Amatu and other Priests at that time. He finally worked with Nnamdi Azikiwe University where he eventually retired from active duty.

He got married to his lovely wife Laura at Mount Camel Catholic Church Emekuku Owerri on the 20th day of December 1980. Their marriage was blessed with four Children, Kelechi Dons Jnr, Adaeze and a set of twins Chikwendu and Ogochukwu. He was so devoted to his wife and family, a mark of Fidelity and love. His devotion to marriage was examplary. No one will ever know that he's an only child; he embraced his cousins and took up the responsibility of catering for them immediately after the civil war. He cared for everybody around him, felt the pain of the oppressed and gave his best to help mankind, one whose watch words were decency and discipline.

He was the director of socials for Emekuku students during his youth. He was one of the founding members of old Owerri association Awka branch, which he guided for two decades as their President. Ndaa Dona was also the founding President of Owerri progressive union and the grand Patron to the Owerri students union of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. His social life was one filled with homour, laughter and melodious music; to Sir Dons every speech had a musical note.

His religious life was one that should be emulated; his father was deeply rooted in the church. Sir Dons was baptized in 1940, he was brought up in a catholic way by his parents. His passion for worshipping God was stirred up from birth. Sir Dons in his days as an infant was a mass server. His passion for music and singing for God, lead him to the choir. Sir Donatus Ogu, onye nkuzi ukwe as he was called was the choir master at St Mary's Catholic Church Achi. He has been a member of the choir in every parish he belonged to. Till his last days, he was a bonafide member of St Cecilia's Choir of St Patrick's Cathedral Awka and also a member of the central and bishop's choir Awka.

He was initiated into the Ancient and Noble order of Knight of St. John international in 1997 where he rose to the rank of lieutenant in Awka commandery 434. He found peace and derived joy going for function with his brothers and sisters in the noble knight hood. He was a perfect knight worthy of emulation and a true soldier of Christ. He was also a member of the miles Jesu.

The world today has lost a rare breed, one that cannot be found in a thousand years to come. A knight whose quest for sanctity is unmatched; a man worthy of canonization. He will be missed by the world but surely, his soul rests in the bosom of the lord.

Lady Laura Onyii Dons Ogu  -Wife                                                                         Engr. Kelechi Donatus Ogu    - Son                                                                       Mrs. Adaeze Josephine Mbonu -Daughter                                                          Mr. Christian Chikwendu Ogu  -Son                                                           

 Miss. Ogochukwu Christiana Ogu (Mma Daddy) - Daughter

COUSINS

Mr. Mike Ogu

Mr. Charles Ogu

Mrs Augustina Uka

Mrs. Cecilia Anurukem

Mrs Malvis Uwakara

Mr. Humphrey Ogu

Mr John Ogu

Mr Morgan Ogu

Mr Rolland Ogu

Mrs Florence

Mr Goddy Ogu

Mr Oliver Nnodi

Mr. Damien Nnodi

Mrs Br idget Nnodi & Others.

Signed Engr. Kelechi Ogu

FUNERAL  ORATION

THE LOVE OF MY LIFE-MY DONS

My love! I recount with great nostalgia my life with you these 33yrs of our marriage. Ours was a wonderful and God blessed union, full of understanding, true love, caring, kindness, hope, patience, generousity, happiness, protection and a sense of belonging. You were indeed a true husband, brother and friend to me and all that you held so dear to your heart.

Dons my love! You have always been the source of my strength, my adviser, my provider and defender. In all my weakness you were there to fight for me. In all my needs and worries you were there to shoulder my burden. You really shielded me as the apple of your eye. I was never in doubt of your great love for me, for every vein in your life full of your love and concern for me, our children in particular and for all that came across your life. You held no one in disdain and hate, my friends were yours, my people all yours. Dons! Your death is a big blow to me - a thorn in my flesh. My old mother who you helped in looking after is still asking where you went to.

Oh Dons! You laboured a lot for us your dear ones only for death to show its ugly face at a time we were all thinking to repay you for all your tilling on earth. As you were lying on your sick bed fading away gradually from me and your dear one, I was by you watching you helplessly as I could not rescue you from the cold hands of death. It was your candid desire not to leave us now, but death did not let its hands off you. Watching you breathe your last breath was like piercing my heart with a piece of rod.

No! Death has not won us for your death is your transition to blissful rest in the Lord your creator who alone knows why he decided to take you now from us despite all our pleas. My love, I love you and will always love you. God has a better plan for you in heaven, never lose sight of us your wife and children. Have a blissful rest with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Goodnight my love!                                                                                           Goodnight my loving husband!!                                                                           Goodnight Sir Dons!!!                                                                                             It is me Onyii your loving wife.


MY DADDY,MY HERO,MY IDOL

Just a few weeks ago, I was telling my mum and Dad how ridiculously often that they went for cancellation meetings; little did I know that Daddy’s name was the next name to be cancelled from the knight of St. John International.

Where will I start, is it from the impeccable way you loved my mum, is it the way you loved me and my siblings, that you raised  us up with the best that any family  in the world can afford even with the little you had, the unending sacrifices you made for mankind even strangers, or the unflinching faith you have in God. How can I jump this hurdles, the moral legacy you left is so high for anyone living to attain.

                                

How will I describe you, where am I going to start from, I’ve read tributes in funeral brochures, can’t believe it is my turn to write mine and I don’t know how many pages that will be enough for me.

You made me believe in fidelity in marriage without even saying a single word about it to me, you’re scrupulously a catholic, a catholic that has his catechism in mind at all times, a humanitarian, a humble heart. You thought me how to lay down my problems to God in prayers going to the chapel, how to give  without expecting to receive, to die by what is the truth, to detest lucre  for wealth and whatever is existing on earth that will deter me from being with God. You are a father to the fatherless; a brother to so many, no one on earth can match your record of being a Godfather to so many people. You treated me not only as a son, but as a brother, sometimes I wonder how you do it. When I call you obstinate in our arguments, it is because you’ve chosen not to change to the evil trends of the generation and the world of today, maybe that’s why God called you, so that your white robe will not be stained. A man, who I’ve never had tell a lie.

Sometimes I say you should have been a priest, how fortunate I am to have a father like you. You served God with your beautiful, melodious voice, your voice and your words keeps resounding in my ear everyday. You don’t believe in preaching but practicing what is being preached, hypocrisy is never a word that can be associated to you. Ever when you couldn’t walk up to half a mile on foot, the only things that gave you joy as walking to the chapel, going to church on Sunday to sing with the choir and attending all meetings and functions of the noble knights of St John International. Daddy, I have only two regrets, I didn’t record a song with you to always hear your lovely voice and I wasn’t there to hear your last words. The Christian world should look at you and see the true definition f the word ‘knight’. You are a great man.

Riches and wealth does not make a man, it is your values that makes a man. You always told us that the legacy you left for us is ‘good name’ and that it was passed unto you by your father. Daddy, that legacy I will uphold.

I will never use the word ‘was’ when talking about you, because you told me that you are not dead, ‘I am still with your all’; those were the exact words in my dream. Then, I strongly believed you just traveled to heaven.

There is always humour and music in everything you do. You are so nice a man that your school friends call you impression Dons, the world call you a living saint, I call you St. Dons.

The fact is that you believe yours Dad ‘Lazarus’ is in heaven, now I understand that feeling, because I know you’re in heaven. What will my children say about me when I leave this earth? I want them to say the same things about me.

I will not disappoint you in this life and the crave to reunite with you and grand pa one day to  join the choir that will sing to the  Lord in heaven, will always be the strength I need to overcome the troubles, trials and temptation of this world.

Thank you my hero, my idol, my orator and role model, extend my greetings to our father in heaven.

Love you Sir Dons

Your son,

Ogu Kelechi Dons jnr.

THE BEST DADDY

                              

Daddy, am short of words, the only question I ask is ‘why now?” you were and still remain the best man that I have come across on earth, you were just exceptional and I know that you are with the Lord. I love you daddy and you will always be in my heart, may you rest with your creator and also pray for us.

Rest in peace Daddy

Your loving daughter Nnenna

MY MENTOR, MY ROLE MODEL

Daddy, so it is true that one day we will look for you and will not find you, as you have always told us. Our morning sun has gone down never to rise. Oh! Death, why have you chosen to take away my protagonist (hero) now that his sun is rising to its climax.

Oh! Death now you have succeeded in taking away my role model, where again will I hear that lovely voice that tunes me to sleep and who will call me Nnanna. At you sick bed, the day I and mum took you to Amen Specialist Hospital, when I lifted you up because you wee too weak to walk, you said to me and mum “My boy is carrying me”. If I remember those dreadful moments of your sick days, I begin to ask God why?

                            

Daddy, life without you is a walking shadow, but my consolation is that you lived and exemplary life worthy of emulation.

Most times I wonder whether I can be able to attain your goodness, when you pray for God Almighty to touch those who have wronged you, and again I was not surprised at your sick bed that you began preaching to those who visited you saying. “Keep doing good and live an upright life”. Daddy left for us a legacy which your father left for you which is “Good name”, one promise that I am making to you is that since you live to your father’s expectation of you, I will live to your expectations of me.

Daddy, you made me to understand that this world is not a bed of roses. The life you lived has set a high standard for me. What a world without you? I will uphold your legacies, I will not fail you. Since the world has spoken good of you and it is said that, voice of the people is the voice of God, I believe that God will have no choice than to welcome you in his paradise.

I miss you my father, my mentor and my role model.

Farewell daddy

Ogu Chikwendu Christian

Son

 
FATHER OF ALL

Why has death treated us this way?

Why the departure of my father?

Why leaving so soon?

Why this sad moment?

Daddy was a man who lived to worship God; has was a man that never likes to see the tears of a fellow man or his wife and children. He was a father of all, he was a lovely musician who always signs to the glory of God.

                                    

The day I was called in school to tell me that you have been hospitalized it was a surprise to me because I never knew you as one who gets sick, Daddy, you are super hero and you are my model. Who will I sing with again? Who will call me Mma? Who will show me that your lovely smiles again? If there is anything for me to do for you to come back I will do it no matter what it takes.

Daddy I miss you and your voice, your love, your care, your laughter and your face. You are the best husband mummy ever had and you are the best father we your children had. I love you daddy, we love and miss you. It’s me Mma! May your soul rest in peace, Amen.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE ,AMEN . 

              ........THE END......

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