Family and friends bade Ezinne Patience Ojinnaka goodbye.
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The Ojinnaka royal family of Uba Umuaka in Njaba LGA Imo State on Friday December 22 witnessed yet another high profile burial. Ezinne Mrs Patience Uwakaraonyenma Ojinnaka (Omenka), a retired teacher, unionist, devote Christian mother and a social builder was buried amidst tears and display of love and unity among her children, grandchildren, family and friends.
The journey to the great beyond for the amiable woman actually started on the night of December 21, 2023 at one of the country homes of the Ojinnakas, precisely,Chief Okechukwu Ojinnaka, the first son of the deceased. It was at this place that a service of songs and a Christian wake keep were observed for the repose of the soul of the departed Christian mother.
Around 7 am in the morning of Friday 22 December 2023, family members and friends left for the mortuary of Federal Medical Centre Owerri to bring back the remains of the woman of substance who died at the age of 75. On their arrival in the village, the motorcade made a brief stopover at the main compound of the Ojinnakas where the remains of the late Ezinne were received by HRH Eze Henry Izuchukwu Ojinnaka in an exclusive royal ritual.
After a couple of rituals performed by the royal father himself, the casket was again placed in the ambulance vehicle that brought her to the main compound of the Ojinnakas. The motorcade again began the journey to the residence of the first son of the deceased, Chief Okechukwu Ojinnaka for lying in state.
Few minutes after their arrival at the compound of Chief Okechukwu Ojinnaka, the master of the ceremony announced the order those who wished to see the body of the woman would follow. According to him, the first to see the lying in state was the Ojinnaka family led by HRH Eze Ojinnaka before others would go in to pay their last respect as well.
By 10 am, the master of the ceremony again announced that it was time to proceed to St Mary’s Catholic Church where a requiem Mass has been booked for the deceased. Few minutes later, the journey to the church began. The reverend father who officiated during the Mass spoke emphatically about life and death and the need for Christians to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ. In less than 2 hours later, the Mass came to an end and back to the Chief country home of Okechukwu Ojinnaka where the internment was done.
Umuaka Times reporters who covered the event reported that people came as far as Abia State, Lagos, UK and America etc all came to pay their last respect.
