Duru Wilbird Anyaehiwa Onyeanu laid to rest.
3 min read
Top community leader, Christian elder and a highly respected family man, the late Duru Wilbird Anyaehiwa Onyeanu was buried in his home town of Emeke Agbala in Naze town of Owerri North LGA amidst praises for a life well lived. The burial of the nonagenarian which took place on October 11, 2024 presented itself as a meeting point where several friends, well-wishers and familes re-established contacts with each other.
When Umuaka Times arrived at the family compound of the late sage by exactly 9:15 am, soon the youths who were conveying the remains of Pa Duru Wilbird Anyaehiwa Onyeanu from the Ascension Mortuary Naze, were spotted singing traditional and local songs as they were closely following the SUV ambulance. When they arrived the family compound finally, the remains of Pa Wilbird (Ogbumma) were prepared for lying in state. Family members, friends and well-wishers were called by the man who was anchoring the event to go in and see the remains of Pa Wilbird for the last time as a mark of respect. This process lasted for at least 25 minutes as many people really wished to see the remains of the man who showed and displayed love to most of them. At the end of the lying in state segment, the anchorman announced that it was time to shift the event to Church of Albert Catholic Church for the celebration of a requiem Mass for the soul of the deceased.
When everyone had left the room, the undertakers went into the lying in state room and brought out the casket and went straight to the waiting SUV ambulance. Immediately this was done, to the church everyone headed. At the church, it took about 20 minutes before things were put in place for the requiem Mass to properly begin. When the Mass finally began, the church auditorium had almost filled to the brim as many joined in the service.
During the gospel time, the priest spoke about the need for Christians to live an upright life and obey the laws of God and love one another. He talked about the dedication of Pa Wilbird as a committed Christian father who took time to serve God. He prayed to God to accept his soul in his Paradise.
Around 1 pm, the church service came to an end and to the Onyeanu family house the congregation went. The priest who officiated the requiem Mass also came home with the congregation for graveside prayers and more. Soon after the prayers, the priest ordered the youths of the community to lower the casket to the grave. This was done almost immediately. Again more prayers were made and eventually, the priest put sand to the grave as a mark of respect. After he did that, he called some other church group leaders and children and family of the late deceased to come and perform the ritual of putting sand to the grave.
The journey that started 92 years ago was at this point wrapped up by family and friends for a man who never injured anyone during his lifetime.
Rest in peace Duru Wilbird Anyaehiwa Onyeanu
