Goodbye Mother Mary Iwuofor. By Geoffrey Iwuofor.
4 min read
Mother Mary Ezihuo Iwuofor (nee Otuonye) was the first of six children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Otuonye Ajaero of Umuezikeamaukwu in Umuezikeukwu, Uba Umuaka Ancient Kingdom of Njaba Local Government Area, Imo State. Born in 1939, the then young Mary Ezihuo Otuonye attended Saint Jude’s Primary School Amurie Omanze between Nineteen forties and early fifties.
“Dee Mary” as popularly and fondly called by all the brothers, sisters and relatives alike, mother Mary Ezihuo Otuonye was married to the then, young Kevin Iwuofor, in the late nineteen sixties. The marriage was conducted in the Roman Catholic Church and blessed with seven kids of five sons and two daughters.
A combination of learning from school, family background and grooming from the husband, which embodied handwork, determination, perseverance and self control created a pattern of remarkable discipline that guided her life’s time.
Because she detested laziness, she remained a trusted partner in her husband’s business such that, she assumed full responsibility, as she took over and upheld the family principles and business orientation at the demise of her husband in June 2012 till the end of her life in June 2023.
Mama’s kind gestures to people around her coupled with her dedication and astuteness to her Christian life, made both the young and old in the community to call her “Nne Mary, Mother Mary” as she was considered mother to all. Mother Mary was a hardworking, committed and reliable business magnet in the Afor Umuaka market, as she would prefer to go in the rains to attend to her numerous customers. To her, remaining at home makes her like she was sick, so it was better for her to go out there and hustle.
Mother Mary lived a life that set extremely high standards for the children and people that knew her. She was disciplined, determined, intelligent, upright and was able to develop certain schools of thought and philosophy that were severally tested and operational. For instance, she was of the opinion that “unfailingly has failed”. She never believed in the concept of “Unfailingly”. To her, when you want to assure her that you would do something, simply tell her, God’s willing, you are going to do that, she will believe you, but when you say “unfailingly” you are going to take her to heaven or do whatever you think may please her, she will out rightly, make up her mind that you have failed her and that is it; the person will eventually fail in that regards. Hence, she concluded that unfailingly has failed. Mama was a vessel of truth, justice and fair play. Just like her husband, late Hon. Kelvin Iwuofor, they never fancy living beyond their means.
They rejected all attempts at living cerebral life. They rejected offers of chieftaincy titles and the likes, from notable royal fathers in Umuaka and beyond. However, with the support of her children and the clamor for merit, she accepted the honour of “EZIADA BU IHE” of St. Mary’s Parish Umuaka which was well deserved as a remarkable ADAUKWU of her family and the church in 2007.
Her disciplined lifestyle also manifested in her eating habits from the time she was diagnosed as diabetic, she never ate any food outside the recommendation of her physician. She was very selective in her choice of food and she had taste for the best of everything she ate, including her tomatoes, one of her customers once said to me, “Mma anaghi eri awarawa tomatoes”, on knowing that Mma sent me to buy the tomatoes, she retrieved it from me and changed same to fresh ones.
To the glory of God, one may say that mother Mary, my mother, your mother, our mother led a decent, fruitful and fulfilled life until on June 7, 2023 when Mr. Death arrived and she followed.
Oh death, who and what are you to delete our mother from the face of this earth? We are consoled because we have learnt that, death is two way traffic. It is the termination of life on the one side (Earth) and the commencement of another life on the other side (Heaven). It is our hope that you are rejoicing with the Angels and Saints in heaven singing.
Our dearest mother Mary, you didn’t die in vain, your tails are now fruits. You are living forever because you recreated yourself in your children, an epitome of love. We are grateful. Every day we pray, we pray for your soul to be with the Lord because that is the only potent food we have for you in your memory. May paradise be your permanent abode, Amen.
Good Night, Mama as you went in to sleep, then you slept in the Lord. Rest in Perfect Peace.
