Lady Louisa Ada Duru laid to rest amid praises.
3 min read
Yesterday being Friday 5 April 2023 was a day that will not be forgotten in a hurry in Njaba LGA especially in Umuaka Municipal Council Imo State. On this special day, an omuru n’ulo luo n’ulo, eziaada, ezinne and famous teacher in the person of Lady Louisa Ada Duru was laid to rest after spending more than 8 decades on earth.
By the time Umuaka Times arrived at the country home of Dr Ikenna Duru, the chief mourner and the son of the late woman of faith, many people including community and faith based organizations had gathered in preparation for the big burial event. Around 8 am, Dr Duru, family members, friends and well-wishers zoomed off in a long motorcade to the mortuary to convey the corpse of the late Lady Louisa Ada Duru to Umuezeala in Umuele Amazano for her rites of passage.
At the mortuary, some family members went to hold talks with the mortuary attendants for clearance and identification. After the clearance and approval were obtained, the motorcade headed back to Umuaka with the corpse. At Umuaka junction, many people were already waiting to join the motorcade to Umuele. On arrival to Umuele, the motorcade first headed to the residence and country home of Honourable Chuma Nnaji for a brief stopover.
As the ambulance vehicle conveying the corpse drove inside the compound of Chief Nnaji, the chief himself, his wife and some other members of the extended family were already waiting to welcome their daughter and sister back home for the last time. Nnaji spoke briefly about his sister, about life and about the living as well. After his presentation, he took a bottle of hot drink poured it around the ambulance and finally bade his sister an everlasting and lovely good bye. He wished her well and told her to go in peace to glory.
The journey again began fully to the Durus family. About 30 minutes later, the trip came to an end as the motorcade comprised of the indigenes of the community, youths, friends and well-wishers as well as some entertainers alighted from their vehicles and started to walk down to the family compound. The undertakers also moved into dancing as they carried the casket shoulder high. Little by little, they arrived at the compound and in few minutes later, the body of the late teacher was laid in state for people to pay their last respect.
The first persons to see the corpse of Lady Louisa Duru were Dr Ikenna Duru, his wife and other members of the Duru family. The viewing of the corpse continued until the master of the ceremony called for the undertakers to prepare themselves and the corpse for the funeral Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church Umuele.
At the church, Umuaka Times reporters counted over 18 priests from various parishes across Umuaka and beyond who came to participate in the celebration of the requiem Mass for the late devoted woman of God. There was also a heavy presence of catholic reverend sisters and royal fathers. During the gospel, the officiating priest extolled the virtues of the deceased and enjoined the congregation to always remember her in their daily prayers.
When the requiem Mass finally came to an end, again, the congregation moved to the Durus family house for the internment of the late Ezinne. Soon after, the priests arrived and graveside prayers and Catholic rituals were made and the late Lady Louisa Ada Duru was laid to rest at the bosom of Abraham.
