The parish priest and parishioners of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Obodoukwu in Ideato North LGA of Imo State, have bid farewell to late Chief Mrs. Maria Nnennaya Obi (Odiukonamba), who died at the age of 81 years.
Speaking at the funeral mass in honour of the late parishioner on the 10th of January, 2023, Rev. Father Dr. Dominic Nwuzor, while asking on the whereabout of some personalities and parishioners he came in contact with, in the course of his apostolic work and after he became the parish priest of the church, enumerated on some of the challenges that late Mrs. Maria Obi encountered, while alive and affirmed she came out triumphantly, despite all odds.
The clergy in the meantime, urged parishioners and guests to ensure they live a life worthy of emulation, while alive, disclosed that some of the personalities and parishioners he came to know in the community and parish are no longer alive. Hence, the need for the living to make judicious use of their time on earth to live a life that they would be remembered for.
Rev. Nwuzor, who was the first parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Obodoukwu, told parishioners and guests at the funeral mass that he was speaking about the life and times of late Chief Mrs. Maria Obi the way it is, having known late Mrs. Maria and her late husband, Mr. Mark Obi, as far back as 1985, when he came on an apostolic work in the area, before he became the first priest of the parish.
The former parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, however, charged the first son of late Mrs. Maria, Mr. Emeka Obi, along side their son-in-law, Barr. E.C Orji, to ensure peace and unity in the family which their late mother left behind.
He was of the view that consolidating on the peace efforts by their late mother, while she was alive, would bring about the needed peace that is required to keep the family on a pedestal of love, unity and progress.
In his remarks at the funeral mass, Mr. Emeka Obi, the eldest son of the family thanked all and sundry for making out time to be with them in their moment of grief, as well as their numerous supports and contributions in making the funeral ceremony a success.
In the same vein, Mr. Chinedu Obi, the 3rd son of the family in an interview with Nigerian MomentumNews & Magazine, shortly after interment, appreciated God for the life and times of his late mother, who according to him, lived a life of emulation.
Responding, Barr. E.C. Orji, a legal practitioner and principal partner at Nwachinaemelu Chambers, son-in-law to the bereaved family and President General Emeritus of Umuawulu Ancient Kingdom, Anambra State, opined that he was devasted by the death of his mother-inlaw, even though she died at the ripe age of 81 years, according to him.
Barr. Orji who extolled the virtues of late Chief Mrs. Maria Obi, explained that she never treated him as an in-law, but as a son, hence his resolve alongside his wife, Mrs. Nkeiruka Orji to relocate Mrs. Maria from home to a Abuja, where she lived with them in the last few years, before her death.
On the charge by Rev. Fr. Dominic Nwuzor on peace and unity in Obi family, Barr. Orji, assured of consolidating on the peaceful effort of his late mother in-law, adding that as an insider, that he would continue to do what he has been doing for peace, unity and progress in the family.
Earlier on a condolence visit, Mr. Alphonsus Sunday Iroh (Ezinna), spoke on a cordial relationship between his family and that of late Mr. & Mrs. Mark Obi in the last 53 years, having lived as a tenant with the bereaved family for over 25 years, before leaving for where he is currently living with his family in the community.
Mr Iroh, who came alongside his first son, Mr. Okechukwu Iroh on the condolence visit, appreciated late Mr. & Mrs. Mark Obi for being the foundation of his journey to their community and Obodoukwu Clan at large, urged Mr. Emeka Obi and his siblings to try and keep the age long relationship tempo alive.
Other members of the family that expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all and sundry that attended or supported the burial ceremony include: Mr. Chika Obi, Mr. Obinna Obi, Mrs. Nkeiruka Orji and Miss Chidiebere Obi, among others.
