Ezinne Titi Susanna Durugo goes home in a blaze of glory.
3 min read
Thursday October 10, 2024 was a day the famous Durugo family of Obazi Isiozi Akah will not forget in a hurry. On this eventful day, the remains of the matriarch of the family, Ezinne Susanna Durugo were committed to the mother earth after a life lived to the fullest that spanned for 105 years. Known and addressed as Mama Catena by family and friends due to her unshakable faith in the Lord, was born in 1919 and from the records Umuaka Times gathered, she maintained her Christian faith until the day she had her last breath on earth.
When Umuaka Times local affairs correspondents arrived at the family compound of the Durugos on the eventful day, many people and organizations both faith and community based organizations had all gathered to pay their last respect to the iconic woman of faith. Around 8 am, the ambulance conveying the remains of Mama Catena touched the Durugo family compound at some minutes after 8 am with some youths singing and dancing in celebration of a life well lived. Soon after that, the remains of Mama Catena were dressed for lying in state and family and friends were called to start paying their last respect for her.
The first set of people who went in to see the remains was the children of the deceased led by Chief Callistus Durugo, the first son of Mama Catena. Other members of Durugo family followed immediately.
Several groups and individuals were called up by the anchor of the burial ceremony to also go in and pay their last respect.
By the time the viewing of the remains of Mama Catena segment came to an end, the ambulance and other cars formed another motorcade and headed straight to St Joseph’s Catholic Church Isiozi where a requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Although the requiem Mass was billed to start by 10 am but the Durugo family and others decided to do something very significant; the motorcade arrived the premises of the church by 9:30. The reason for this Umuaka Times learnt, was in honour of the deceased who never went late to any church service in her lifetime.
The requiem Mass started as scheduled with a host of other priests including Reverend Professor S.C Eboh, a former Parish Priest at St Mary’s Catholic Church Umuaka. During the gospel time, the priest who spoke emphatically about faith in God and dedication to the things of God, extolled the virtues of Mama Catena and appealed to those present to emulate the footsteps of Ezinne Titi Susanna Durugo who dedicated her life to God and humanity.
By the time the requiem Mass came to an end, the mourners went back to the Durugo family house for graveside prayers and interment. Umuaka Times observed that already and even before the arrival of those who went for the requiem Mass, many more people had arrived for the burial ceremony. People came all the way from Port Harcourt, Lagos, Anambra State and Owerri. About three reverend fathers including Professor S.C Eboh who is also a monsignor were present to conduct the graveside prayers.
The choir of St Joseph’s Catholic Church Isiozi Akah was at the graveside providing funeral songs that really touched the hearts of those who came to pay their last respect. Approximately by 1:15pm, the casket containing the body of 105 year old Ezinne Titi Susanna Durugo (nee Chimezie) was lowered to the 6 feet grave, according to Christian rites. The lowering of the casket signified the end of an era for a woman who came, saw and eventually conquered all except death. Umuaka Times wishes her soul a total rest in the Lord.
