A Tribute to my Mother – Mama Louisa Ada Duru! (Nee Nnaji). By Ikenna Duru.
7 min read
For those who might not know me, my name is Ikenna Fortune Duru (Akụnaepuome), the son of my Mother – Mama Louisa Ada Duru – for whom we gather here today. I have articulated the biography of my mother somewhere in the bulletin but will not hesitate to give this brief tribute on behalf of my sisters – Mrs. Ifeyinwa Flora Ọnwụegba and Mrs. Ijeọma Jennifer Chukwuneke as well as my wife, Mrs. Nneka Akụnaepuome Duru, and our children.
I want to acknowledge all who have travelled from far and near to be with my family at the funeral of my mother this day – friends who came from distant USA, Lagos, Abuja, different States, and all the crannies of Imo State. I would not try to name you one-by-one because you are a legion! And for distance, the entire Michigan would have emptied out to Amazanọ today. Nonetheless, for those who came, thank you very much! Your presence means a lot to me. I appreciate!!
Ụmụnna m ndị Ụmụduruemeruo Ụmụele Amazanọ na ndị Holy Rosary Catholic Church Amazanọ na ndị Ọgọ m na ndị enyi m; Ọ bụ gịnị ka anyị gbakọtara n’ebe a? Ọ bụ gịnị ka anyị na-akwara akwa? Unu sị n’ihe ukwu e meela n’ụbọchị ahịa ukwu! N’ọkụkọ onye ụwa a jụla ịlọọta ụrị. N’ụkwụ e jiele agụ, mgbada a bịala ya ụgwọ; N’ọnwụ e gbuole Nne m, Mama Louisa Ada Duru! Chaị, onye wetara mma e jiri gbuo agụ? Ọnwu a napụla m ihe m ji-akpa nganga! Ọnwụ a gbawala m aka Nne na aka Nna na nwata. Onye ga-asị na Mama m mejọrọ ya? Chaị, egbe e burule nwa ọkụkọ n’iru nne ya! Anyamiri e jule anyị anya! Usekwu Mama m ajụọla oyi! Ọnwụ nne na nna na-eme ka nwata ghọọ okenye n’ike! Ya dịwa!
My dear mother – Mama Louisa Ada Duru – passed away to glory on the 10th of December 2023 at the age of 81. She was staying with my Senior Sister with guaranteed care and surplus love. But death was quick and unexpected! I wished Mama could have shielded me a little more from the darkness of our world today as she always did in my childhood and youth. Anyway, my sisters and I should take solace that Mama lives on in us through the hopes, dreams, disciplines, aspirations, and morals she instilled in us. Mama, thank you for always loving us. You made me feel bigger than I look – in age, wisdom, knowledge, and effort. You are the engine that fired me. Chai, ihe e fulahala m! You will always be in my heart though I will miss you dearly. I will remember your prayers as they will always follow me and cling to my heart.
Mama, you did a number in raising me. I remember many things that happened between us where your firm and insistent nurturing will still ring bell in me. I was an avid soccer player growing up. At times, I would go out playing and getting injured. As an only son of yours, you were so protective and would not allow me to get into trouble. One day, we had a match and you hid my shoes so that I would not play. I looked and searched for the shoes, and it was getting late for the game. I cried, ran out, and played without shoes. Unfortunately, I got injured that day – an ankle injury. I came home and slept in till 5pm the next day, nursing my injury. I remember you waking me up and mockingly telling me, “Ike, let’s go out and play!”
When I passed to Polytechnic, Dad insisted that I retake JAMB to a university to pursue pharmacy that I wanted. He was not ready for Polytechnic because he insisted that I was too brilliant for a Polytechnic. One morning and with a lantern, I remember you taking me to one Lady to borrow money with which I registered at the Polytechnic from where I entered the University. Mama, you are too much! When I secured a Visa to come to US through a Lottery, you were gripped with fear to allow me to travel to a distant land. You wanted me to be close to your watchful eyes, I know. Many thoughts of losing me and therefore rendering you sonless surrounded you. However, when it turns out that I must travel “n’ihi anaghị a nọọ ofu ebe e tii mmanwụ,” you called me, knelt me down, and passionately prayed for me. Mama, I am sure that that prayer was the reason I am making and seeing some little success in America. I also remember a story you told me regarding when I was born in 1973. One man called Ojee appeared at the maternity home. Surprised, you asked what brought Ojee, a slightly mentally challenged brother from your village to the maternity. He told you that it was revealed to him that you had a baby boy, and that he had come to bless him. Suspecting, you released me to him, and he blessed me and told you that I would be a successful man in life. Mama, time will not allow me to narrate all you told me now. They are in my heart! Thank you, Mama!
Mama, you are never afraid to be my mother – putting your foot down to teach me right from wrong, insisting on morals, enforcing discipline even when it was inconvenient, and seeing that I did my best. Growing up, I would, at times, fake shedding tears when I did something wrong or when I didn’t want to run an errand, but tears were not enough for you. You would be firm, resolute, and unsympathetic. When I realized that my crying and tearing would not reach you, I stopped, and grew up. And you always let me know I had a mother who cared for and believed in me, and who was there for me, no matter what. Thank you, Mama!
Mama, you are a rare mother. May God bless your soul. It is said that “When someone you love becomes a memory; the memory becomes a treasure.” If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I would race right up to Heavens and recall you back because we did not exhaust you. Mama, your physical presence I will miss but your memory I will treasure till eternity. I will love you always and will never forget you. The Bible tells us that “while God created us, He did so in our mother’s womb” (Prov 139:13-16), hence mothers are special. Mothers create life and make sacrifices for their children every day. Dear God, as we mourn the passing of our mother, may we find safety and comfort in Your Name. May Your voice soothe our pain and strengthen our weakness, and may Your promises provide hope in our distress, and stability in our confusion.
You were an inspiring soul, always there for all who came to you with their troubles. Your home was open to everyone, your kitchen was a United Nation’s kitchen (Usekwu ọha), and your hospitality made everyone feel counted. You were a loving, humble, compassionate, understanding, family-orientated mother, one of the most beautiful souls one could ever meet. Mama, to the world, you were one person, but to me and my siblings, you were the world. While you did not have much, you made us feel like we had everything. You taught me love, patience, endurance, how to pray, and lead by example. You praised me whenever I did something good and never shied away in pointing out my mistakes, though with a gentle voice. You encouraged me to work hard in school. You were not only a mother but also my first instructor, teacher, and professor. I called you my teacher, friend, sister, cousin, and Dad (aka Manos Manos) when I lost him some years back. You efficiently stood in for him, and it is only God who knows what your inner strength is made of. You were precious and a gift from God with so much beauty, grace, love, and patience. You touched my heart in so many ways. Even on dark days, your strength and smile made me realize I had an angel beside me. Thank you, Mama!
Mama, Odogwu nwaanyị, O ji nwayọọ ejee; Ọ bụkwa ahụ dimkpa, a hụụ ogwodogwo imi ya; Enyi ọha dum! Nwaanyị udo zuru ahụ. Omee mgbe ihe siri ike! Chaị, ihe tagburu nkịta a taala arụ! Ọnwụ anaghị asọ anya! Mama, Onye na-ekwuchitere ndị na-enweghị ọnụ na onye ọgụ ndị na-enweghị ike. Chaị, ihe ọma anaghị e kwee ka ejide ya n’aka. Mama, Chị gị maara ihe mere gị. Ihe bịakwutere nte n’ọnụ karịrị nte, ma ọ bụghị ya, Ọkpara gị gara-eji ọgwu Bekee chụọ ọnwụ ọsọ! Ụmụokorọbịa nọ n’ama anyị gara alụ ọgụ n’ike n’ike. Ụmụnwanyị ndị Ụmụduruemeruo Ụmụele Amazanọ na ndị Holy Rosary Catholic Chọọchị Amazanọ gara-eburu aka ọdụ ha wee lụso ọnwụ ọgụ. Ọnwụ gara-ahụ ọgụ hụkwa mgba! Ya dịwa!
Mama, hapụcha! Ọkụ ị mụnyere n’ụwa agaghị anyụ anyụ! Anyị ga na-echeta ọrụ ọma niile ị rụrụ n’ụwa – Ịkwụ ezi okwu; Ịhụ mmadụ ibe anyị n’anya; Inwe mgbalị n’ọrụ na inwe obi dị umeala; Ịnwe obi nmepụ aka na imenyere ndị nọọ na mkpa; Ịbụ ọkụ na ihee ndị ọzọ ji a hụụ ụzọ; Ịhụ ezi n’ụlọ anyị n’anya, ma nke kachasịnụ – Ikpere na ịkwesi ike na Jisọs Kraịst na ịbi ndụ anyị niile n’ime Ya. Ihe ncheta gị ga-ebigide n’obi anyị rue n’ụwa ebighị-ebi …Amen!
Ezigbo Mama m hụrụ n’anya, Onye nkụzi ọha, onye nduu ụmụ ogbenye, onye ọzụzụ, nwaanyị hụrụ Chi ya n’anya – Gaa ije gị nke ọma! Ụjọ a tụkwala gị n’ihi gị na Chị gị kwụụ na njem! Mama m, laawa, lakwuru Chị kere gị, ebe ị ga-ezu ike na ndokwa!!
Laa n’ụdo! Abụ m Ọkpara gị,
Ikenna Fortune Duru
N’aha Ezinụlọ.
