The Life History of a Virtuous Woman. By Fr Eburuaja.
5 min read
Born in the peaceful polygamous family of Eze Ngodo in Umule, okoro Okwaegesi in Umuma Isiaku Ideato South LGA in 1944, Ezinne Regina was the first daughter of her own mother with three brothers. The birth of Regina was welcomed with great joy as the child at birth was very beautiful that made her parents and relatives to nick name her Nwanyioma, which in the language of UmumaIsiaku is called the loving debased form Nwaaoma. Still IN THAT LOVING DEBASED FORM OF HER NAME, HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY CALLS HER Mooma. She was one of the most beloved in her family and one of the most beautiful girls at her time. She was very humane and humorous in nature. A nature she took from her mother, Nweelele of blessed memory. She was a kind girl and ever smiling lady. A nature she took to her husband’s place that made all to love her.
HER EARLY LIFE.
Nwaaoma had the opportunity of western education at the elementary level, but could not furthermore her education due to financial constraints. However, she was properly groomed by her parents to face the challenges of life. There were some remarkable points in her early life that are worthy of note. She was a loving, caring, and highly accommodating woman. These rare qualities, distinguished her among her equals in the community. Nwaoma was a hard working woman, very articulate and generous in nature.
MARRIED LIFE
As a young beautiful woman, she got married to her heart throb, late Nze Christopher Ejimamuike Eburuaja of Umuoshie Mgbee village. She was her husband’s best friend, helper, confidant and home builder. They were blessed with children to the glory of God.
BUSINESS LIFE
Nwaaoma could be described as a utility player. This could be seen in her engagement into different kinds of petty trading businesses to support her husband for the up keep of her family. She was a strong reliable woman in times of needs. She traded in vegetables, all kinds fruits, bread, kerosene, and all known farm produce within her locality. Apart from these, she was also a skilled labourer. She was a builder; it is worthy of note that our mother was a brick layer like men. This was a rare job for women in their time. A job she learnt naturally while serving as help mate to the meson men in those days. A job her fellow women despised her for, but she never cared due to her love for her family, husband and children. It is worthy to mention that she was nick named ojiukwuaga aba in a bit to meet up with family challenges.
HER LIFE AS A WIDOW
This was a critical moment in her life that she would always relate to her children. She was left along to raise her children after her husband’s death.
As a result of her doggedness and industrious nature, it is on record that she gave all her children the basic secondary school education and beyond as a widow. A woman of honour, mama, we respect you. We remember the days when you go hungry for us to eat. You borrowed money from meetings to see us through in our educational needs. And you always paid as at when due without any disturbance and the knowledge of any person.
CHRISTIAN LIFE
SHE WAS A GOOD CHIRSTIAN MOTHER, A TRUE EZINNE AND A GOD FEARING WOMAN. YOU TAUGHT US TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. AS YOU WOULD ALWAYS TELL US, i na-aga nku, kpewe ekpere, i na-aga mmiri, kpewe ekpere. Ebe obula i na-aga, kpewenu ekpere umum. No wonder while at the point of death, you were responding amen amen, amen to the prayers of the priest that came to give you the last sacrament and your children’s prayer till you gave up the ghost that faithful Sunday afternoon. Mama, you taught us the need for family morning and night prayers. Though you had only two sons among your children, you willingly gave one of your sons to be a priest. No wonder, the church honoured you with the Ezinne merit award. You are a mother that loves to say the rosary and you have inculcated in your children and grand children the love for the praying and wearing of the rosary.
SOCIAL LIFE
Our mother was an extrovert and a humorous woman. She was a good mixer too. She has her own names for all the children born in our kindred. Names like, olumkpuruakwu, eririamarimbe, nwaomirima, onukanji, nwaagbowaawuru, to mention but just a few. These were the names you gave to most of the children born in the kindred. Thus, you were fondly called Mma Eji by many.
In your humorous nature, your greetings were, i dikwa good, i dikwasamsam, i dikwa fresh and i dikwa young. The children are still expecting you to come back for most of these jokes and pleasantries. Who will call the children together again, who will greet them in like manners again. Who will give food to most of the hungry kids again. Mama, all these children will miss you more.
CONCLUSION
Life is really a mystery. A day like this was never expected so soon. All your friends, relatives, children and grandchildren have gathered to bid you farewell. Mama, your goodness attracted you to so many even in owerri where you spent your last days. No sooner had you came to stay with your daughter in-law than the entire street came to know you due to your unique form of greetings and jokes. Everyone that came closer to you, will always leave with good memories of you. in you we agreed that a golden fish, has no hiding place.
We are convinced that you are in good hands in presence of God. When we remember, your life style we are consoled. Mama as we pray for you and bid you farewell, we also ask you to pray for us your orphaned children. Thus we know that life can never be the same again without you. Mama, we love you. Mama we miss you so much. Nwaooma, laa na udo.
