The journey of Ezinne Letricia Unadike to eternity.
3 min read
To live for a 100 years is to gather a 100 years’ experience of life. Anyone who has lived for that period of years in life had indeed fought many battles. Won some and lost some. Now add 5 years to the 100 years what will you see? You will see Ezinne Letricia Uwakwuonu Unadike of Umulolo Umuezeala Uba Umuaka in Njaba LGA Imo State of Nigeria. A strong woman who was born in 1918 and later passed on in 2023 after living for more than 100 years indeed deserved to be celebrated for a life well spent.
On the night of January 11 2024, Christians, youths, family and friends all gathered in Umulolo Uba to observe a wake keep and service of songs in the honour of the woman who came, saw and conquered. The following day being Friday 12 January 2024, every other arrangement had been concluded for her burial. As early as 7 am, the youths of Umulolo who clad in green t-shirt and jeans left for the mortuary of Umuaka Community Hospital in a motorcade to bring home the remains of the centenarian. Due to the issues that were not properly handled, the motorcade arrived home late which made the MC to announce that every other thing was to be rushed.
As a celebration of life, the moment the ambulance conveying the remains of the woman touched the street where the mama lived, youths danced for a very long time before the remains of the woman were laid in state for people to pay their last. In few minutes time, the MC announced that anybody who wanted to see the remains of the woman should bear with the family as there was no time again left.
The requiem Mass which was scheduled at 10 am at St Mary’s Catholic Church Umuaka was just few minutes away and as people were queuing to pay their last respect to the remains of Mrs Unadike, words came that every other process should be suspended in order not to be late to the Mass service. In less than 20 minutes, the viewing of the late Madam Letricia Unadike was concluded. Immediately this was done, her body was brought out by the undertakers and put into the waiting ambulance and the motorcade sped off to St Mary’s Catholic Church where the Mass service was to be held.
The officiating priest while delivering the sermon during the requiem Mass reminded the people about death and the quality of life they live. He asked Christians to amend their ways of life and embrace the Word of God. He asked for mercies from God over the soul of the departed.
In few minutes time, the Mass service came to an ended and off to Umuezeala Uba the motorcade took again. On arrival at the Unadike’s compound, everything was set for the internment. Christian fathers, Christian mothers, youths and friends and well-wishers were all waiting for the moment.
Soon the priest arrived and the graveside prayers, rituals began. By exactly 12:43 pm, the body of the late Ezinne Madam Letricia Uwakwuonu Unadike of Umuezeala Uba was interred in a blaze of glory. People who witnessed the burial rites, all prayed to God to keep them alive to witness such long period of life.
